VOA慢速英语2018--“公民科学家”寻求解决大黄蜂问题的方法

‘Citizen Scientists’ Seek Solutions to Bumblebee’s Problems

Hundreds of amateur¹ “citizen scientists” have begun studying the Pacific Northwest area of the United States. They are seeking to learn more about the nearly 30 species² of bumblebees that live there.

Bumblebees are important for the growth of wild and agricultural plants. They help spread the substances that make it possible for flowers to reproduce³ through the process known as pollination⁴.

But some bumblebee species have disappeared from the places where they were once common.

The new, three-year-long research effort is known as the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas⁵ project. Organizations in Idaho, Oregon and Washington are working together as part of it.

Researchers hope to collect enough information to suggest ways to protect bumblebees and their habitat.

Ann Potter works with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. She told the Associated Press it is important for humans to study honeybees – “the little guys that make the world go around.”

Rich Hatfield works with the conservation group the Xerces Society. He noted⁶ that there is growing interest in returning the habitats for pollinators to their earlier, healthier conditions.

The project’s leadership is sending citizen scientists to selected one-hectare sites. They will have tools to capture insects, as well as plant and bee guides. The amateur researchers will also have a special application, or app, on their smartphones. The app makes it so that findings can be recorded, photographed, mapped and sent to a central database⁷.

Researchers say a little more than 200 people have agreed to visit 400 sites through the end of August. Hatfield said more volunteers are needed, especially to work in more difficult-to-reach areas.

For the study, the bees are captured and put in a low-temperature container so that they go into a sleep-like state. Photos are taken that examine the condition of the bees. The bees are then released unharmed once they warm up.

Unlike honeybees, bumblebees do no spend the winter living in their self-made structures known as hives. Instead, they usually spend the winter in holes in the ground. There are usually only a few hundred individual bumblebees left alive by the time fall arrives. Any honey they produce they eat.

When winter begins, all bumblebees die except a few pregnant⁸ queen bees. In the spring, those queens head out alone to start a new structure to live and produce worker bees in, beginning the process all over again.

Andony Melathopoulos is with Oregon State University. His research interest centers on this period of bumblebees’ lives when they live alone.

“Here’s a species that spends a big part of its life as a vulnerable⁹ queen,” he said.

Honeybees first came to the United States from Europe. People brought them in order to help with the pollination of their crops.

But when it comes to native North American plants and some crops, bumblebees are much more useful. They are much stronger and can hold onto an entire flower, shaking loose the necessary substance for plant reproduction. For some plant species, the bumblebee is the only insect strong enough to do so.

The Western bumblebee was once considered common and widespread. But it has since disappeared from many of the areas it once lived in. And experts for the current study are hoping to find reasons for the sudden decrease in Western bumblebee populations.

Ross Winton of Idaho Fish and Game admitted that scientists do not know much about bumblebees.

“The more we learn, the more concerned we get,” he added.

In the end, the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas could be an example for other states interested in learning more about how their bumblebee populations are doing.

Melathopoulos said, “I think everyone is looking at the Pacific Northwest and this initiative¹⁰ as a test case.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is paying for the research done in Idaho and Washington. In Oregon, another government group called the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research is providing financial support.

I’m Pete Musto.

Words in This Story

amateur – adj. describing a person who does something such as a sport or hobby for pleasure and not as a job

species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

pollination – n. the process of moving the very fine, usually yellow dust that is produced by a plant for reproduction to another plant

habitat – n. the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows

smartphone(s) – n. a mobile telephone that can be used to send and receive e-mail, connect to the Internet and take photographs

hive(s) – n. a place where bees live and usually lay eggs or take care of their young

honey – n. a thick, sweet substance made by bees

vulnerable – adj. easily hurt or harmed physically¹¹, mentally, or emotionally

initiative – n. a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem

1 amateur   

adj.业余的，非专业的；n.业余爱好者

参考例句：

• He made an amateur attempt to build a cupboard.他很外行地试做了一个碗柜。
• Although Tom's only an amateur he's a first-class player.虽然汤姆只是个业余爱好者，但却是一流的高手。

2 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

3 reproduce   

v.生育，繁殖，复制，重做

参考例句：

• The machine can reproduce a key in two minutes.这机器能在两分钟内复制一把钥匙。
• The picture will reproduce well.这照片会印得很清楚。

4 pollination   

n.授粉

参考例句：

• The flowers get pollination by insects.这些花通过昆虫授粉。
• Without sufficient pollination,the growth of the corn is stunted.没有得到充足的授粉，谷物的长势就会受阻。

5 atlas   

n.地图册，图表集

参考例句：

• He reached down the atlas from the top shelf.他从书架顶层取下地图集。
• The atlas contains forty maps,including three of Great Britain.这本地图集有40幅地图，其中包括3幅英国地图。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 database   

n.数据库 （=databank）

参考例句：

• I discovered some new information in the database.我在资料库里发现了一些新信息。
• We planned to build an online database.我们计划建一个联机数据库。

8 pregnant   

adj.怀孕的，怀胎的

参考例句：

• She is a pregnant woman.她是一名孕妇。
• She is pregnant with her first child.她怀了第一胎。

9 vulnerable   

adj.易受伤的，脆弱的，易受攻击的

参考例句：

• He volunteered to protect her as she looked so vulnerable.她看上去很脆弱，他就主动去保护她。
• The company is in an economically vulnerable position.该公司目前经济状况不稳定。

10 initiative   

n.主动性，首创精神，主动权（的行动），倡议

参考例句：

• He went to see the headmaster on his own initiative.他主动去看望校长。
• His employer had described him as lacking in initiative and drive.雇主说他缺乏进取心和干劲。

11 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。