【英语时差8,16】秃鹰数量为何骤减？（上）

Vultures are scavengers that feast on the decaying flesh of dead animals they find lying in the open. Often vilified¹ for their association with death and putrefaction², vultures actually play a critical role in ecosystem³ health by cleaning up carcasses that could harbor dangerous microorganisms, and thereby⁴ preventing the spread of disease. The importance of vultures has sadly become very clear over the past decade in the Indian subcontinent, where their numbers have dropped suddenly and precipitously. Three species of Asian vultures were placed on the international critically endangered species list, but this has had little effect. One species has seen a 99% decline in numbers since 1995. What Caused This Massive And Sudden Decline In Numbers?

1 vilified   

v.中伤，诽谤( vilify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was vilified in newspapers. 他在报纸上受到了诽谤。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She was vilified by the press for her controversial views. 因她持有异议，新闻界对她横加挞伐。 来自互联网

2 putrefaction   

n.腐坏，腐败

参考例句：

• Putrefaction is the anaerobic degradation of proteinaceous materials.腐败作用是蛋白性物质的厌氧降解作用。
• There is a clear difference between fermentation and putrefaction.发酵与腐败有明显区别。

3 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

4 thereby   

adv.因此，从而

参考例句：

• I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。
• He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。