2016-07-25 Loss of biodiversity affects human society 生物多样性减少给人类社会带来影响

科学家说动植物种类的减少危急人类生活及环境的健康。本期《随身英语》谈论生物多样性的减少和生态系统的变化。

课文内容

词汇: environment 环境

If a species of bee disappears forever or a particular plant is extinct, what does it have to do with us humans? Well, according to a team of international scientists, biodiversity is dropping below levels considered safe for the wellbeing of human societies.

The issue is that everything is interconnected and ecosystems support our societies because they provide us with, for example,  food, fibres and fuels.

If species go on disappearing, this can interfere with vital processes such as crop pollination and the decomposition of waste.

A framework which defines the environmental limits within which humans can operate – called planetary boundaries – says that losing more than 10% of the biodiversity in an area places the local ecosystem at risk. Ecosystems are all different but this percentage is considered a good measure of safety.

A study published in the magazine Science suggests that 58% of the world’s land surface already falls below this level. These areas house 71% of the global population.

Professor Andy Purvis, from Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum, is one of the authors of the study. He says: “Once we’re the wrong side of the boundary it doesn’t mean everything goes wrong immediately, but there is a markedly higher risk that things will go badly wrong.”

The researchers found that grasslands, savannas and shrub lands were most affected by biodiversity loss on average.

Purvis hopes this report can be a wake-up call to those who design policies. Here’s his warning: “Decision-makers worry a lot about economic recessions, but an ecological recession could have even worse consequences – and the biodiversity damage we’ve had means we’re at risk of that happening. Until and unless we can bring biodiversity back up, we’re playing ecological roulette.”

词汇表

species  （动植物的）种，物种
extinct  消失的，灭绝的
biodiversity  生物多样性
interconnected  （两个或多个事物）互相联系的
ecosystem  生态系统
interfere  影响
pollination  植物授粉
decomposition  分解
framework  框架，体系
planetary boundaries  地球界限（概念）
land surface  大地表面
Natural History Museum  自然历史博物馆
grassland  草原，草场
savanna  稀树草原
shrub land  灌木丛林
decision-maker  决策者
ecological recession  生物衰退
ecological roulette  生态轮盘赌

测验与练习

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. Why is the existence of many species of animals and plants important for humans?

2. True or false? If 10% of the species in any ecosystem disappear, everything will go badly wrong there.

3. How much of the Earth’s land cover houses almost three-quarters of the world’s population?

4. What idea does Professor Purvis want to convey when using the expression ‘ecological roulette’?

5.Which noun is often used to refer to a period in which trade and industrial activity are reduced?

2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。

1. The more species you have in a particular area, the greater is its __________.

pollination      biodiversity      framework      savannas

2. Birds and starfish live in different __________.

biodiversity      boundaries      ecosystems      societies

3. If tropical forests are not preserved, many species of animals might end up __________.

interconnected      safe      playing ecological roulette      extinct

4. An ecosystem is everything that exists in a particular __________.

society      environment      biodiversity      ecology

5. It’s necessary to avoid further loss of biodiversity or the __________ will be devastating.

boundaries      consequences      environment      land surface

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. Why is the existence of many species of animals and plants important for humans?
Because many species take part in natural processes which guarantee that ecosystems work well and keep giving us food, fibres and fuel.

2. True or false? If 10% of the species in any ecosystem disappear, everything will go badly wrong there.
False. Ecosystems are different and this percentage is just a reference set up by scientists. And things don’t go wrong immediately, according to Professor Andy Purvis.

3. How much of the Earth’s land cover houses almost three-quarters of the world’s population?
About 71% of the global population live in 58% of the world’s land cover.

4. What idea does Professor Purvis want to convey when using the expression ‘ecological roulette’?
Professor Purvis wants to convey the idea that human societies take a great risk in a deadly game.

5.Which noun is often used to refer to a period in which trade and industrial activity are reduced?
Recession.

2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。

1. The more species you have in a particular area, the greater is its biodiversity.

2. Birds and starfish live in different ecosystems.

3. If tropical forests are not preserved, many species of animals might end up extinct.

4. An ecosystem is everything that exists in a particular environment.

5. It’s necessary to avoid further loss of biodiversity or the consequences will be devastating.