2016-08-19 Zebra finch ‘heat song’ changes hatchling development “珍珠鸟”高温时的鸣叫有助于雏鸟生长

文字稿

“珍珠鸟”的学名是斑胸草雀。在炎热的天气环境中，澳大利亚的斑胸草雀会对着自己的胚胎“唱歌”。研究发现，这种鸟在孵卵期发出的叫声可能会影响其雏鸟的生长。这项令人惊叹的成果表明，该类鸟会为应对其幼崽孵化后所处的高温环境做出准备。请听 Jonathan Webb 的报道。

The study began when researchers noticed wild zebra finches, alone with their eggs, singing this squeaky little song. Closer inspection revealed that this was only happening when the temperature climbed above 26 degrees. But what does this mean to a zebra finch embryo?

Based on experiments in incubators and aviaries, it’s a bit like a prenatal weather warning. Eggs that were played recordings of the 26-degree song hatched birds that grew up better adapted to the heat. They developed more slowly, happily chose warmer nesting spots, and had more babies of their own than their siblings.

If you’re a zebra finch and you live in the desert, it seems it may never be too early to start talking to your kids – about the weather.

词汇表

zebra finches 斑胸草雀，“珍珠鸟”
squeaky（叫声）尖促的
inspection 检验，检查
climbed（数量、价格、气温等）上升、增长
embryo 胚胎
incubators（人工培养雏鸟、鱼苗的）孵化器
aviaries 大型鸟舍，鸟笼
prenatal 产前的
weather warning 天气预警
hatched 孵出了
better adapted 更好地适应（某种环境）
nesting spots 筑巢处，做窝的地点

测验

请听报道并回答下列问题。

1. At what temperature would the zebra finches start to sing the ‘heat song’ to their eggs?

2. Where did the scientists conduct the experiments?

3. True or false? Hatchlings that received the ‘incubation calls’ had fewer babies than the control group.

4. Which word is used to mean ‘brothers and sisters’?

答案

1. At what temperature would the zebra finches start to sing the ‘heat song’ to their eggs?
The zebra finches would start to sing the ‘heat song’ to their eggs at 26 degrees.

2. Where did the scientists conduct the experiments?
The scientists conducted the experiments in incubators and aviaries.

3. True or false? Hatchlings that received the ‘incubation calls’ had fewer babies than the control group.
False. Eggs that were played recordings of the 26-degree song had more babies of their own than their siblings.

4. Which word is used to mean ‘brothers and sisters’?
Siblings.