PlanetEarthII《地球脈動(dòng)》第2季第4集：沙漠-BBC(中英對(duì)照)

1、Planet Earth II 地球脈 動(dòng)第 2 季第 4 集 :沙漠_BBC第四集想象一個(gè)世界Imagine a world氣溫高達(dá)四十九攝氏度where temperatures rise to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.沒(méi)有什么能阻擋烈日狂風(fēng)與沙塵Where theres no escape from sun, wind and dust.想象一個(gè)世界幾乎沒(méi)有食物和水Imagine a world with almost no food or water.這種地方占據(jù)了These are the conditions地球上三分之一的土地in one third of

2、the lands of our planet.生長(zhǎng)于斯必須掌握非凡的生存策略To live here demands the most extraordinarysurvival strategies.這是世界上最古老的沙漠This is the oldest desert in the world.納米布沙漠位于非洲西南部The Namib in south-west Africa.干旱已經(jīng)持續(xù)了五千五百萬(wàn)年Its been dry for 55 million years.對(duì)于捕食者來(lái)說(shuō)生活異常艱難Life here for a hunter is as hard as it gets.

3、一群獅子A pride of lions.她們是極少數(shù)能夠忍受如此One of the very few that endures this deserts 高溫缺水的沙漠環(huán)境的物種之一scorching temperatures and lack of water.沙漠狩獵有著特殊的難題Hunting here presents special problems.這群直角大羚羊A herd of oryx,是方圓三十二公里內(nèi)唯一的獵物the only prey within 20 miles.這里沒(méi)有任何伏擊可用的遮擋物Out here, there is no cover for an a

4、mbush.唯有直截了當(dāng)撲殺過(guò)去Itll have to be a straight chase.她們失敗了They have failed每失敗一次獅群離餓死就更近一步and each failed hunt brings the lions closer tostarvation.為了尋找食物充饑To find enough to eat,獅群不斷地在瑞士國(guó)境那么大的區(qū)域內(nèi)搜尋the pride continually searches an area the size of Switzerland.三天里它們走了 161 公里 仍然一無(wú)所獲 Three days and 100 mile

5、s later, and still no kill.這是瀕臨絕望的時(shí)刻These are desperate times.她們領(lǐng)土的邊緣有一條干涸的河床A dry riverbed on the edge of their territory.長(zhǎng)頸鹿是附近唯一的動(dòng)物The only animals here are giraffe,但這重達(dá)一噸的巨獸一腳就能踢死一頭獅子but these one-tonnegiants could kill a lionwith a single kick.獅群很少會(huì)去叨擾如此棘手的獵物L(fēng)ions seldom tackle such formidable

6、prey.但沒(méi)有食物充饑獅群已寸步難行.but this pride cant go on much longer without food.為了獵殺成功The whole pride must work together as a team整個(gè)獅群必須互相配合if theyre to succeed.兩頭母獅帶頭追捕Two lionesses lead the chase.其他獅子奮起直追切斷獵物的逃生路線Others race to cut off possible escape routes.長(zhǎng)頸鹿的速度和耐力都強(qiáng)于獅群The giraffe has thespeed and stami

7、natooutrun the pride.但它正被逐入敵人的陷阱.but its being chased into a trap.領(lǐng)頭的母獅就在前面等待著Up ahead, the lead female waits.輪到她上場(chǎng)了Its now up to her.獅子的獵殺行動(dòng)多以失敗告終Most lion hunts end in failure.但沙漠種群的失敗次數(shù)遠(yuǎn)比其他種群要多得多But no lions fail more often than those that live in the desert.獅群必須再次踏上尋找食物的征程O(píng)nce again, the pride m

8、ust continue their search.沙漠地區(qū)偶爾也會(huì)降雨It does, sometimes, rain in the desert.在美國(guó)西部地區(qū)Here, in the American West,暴風(fēng)雨會(huì)帶來(lái)災(zāi)難性的影響storms can strike with devastating force.十個(gè)月的干旱以后After ten months of drought,百萬(wàn)噸降水millions of tonnes of water在一小時(shí)內(nèi)傾瀉而下are dumped on the land in under an hour.數(shù)百萬(wàn)年來(lái)Over millions of

9、 years,挾帶著砂石的湍急洪水sand and gravel carried by the rampaging floods在堅(jiān)硬的巖石上切割出凹槽have carved channels through the solid rock.形成狹縫谷深達(dá) 46米Slot canyons, 150 feet deep.一些地方的峽谷不斷侵蝕擴(kuò)張In some places, these canyons have widened 最終形成桌狀高地until the land between them is sculpted into tablelands和高聳的石塔and isolated pin

10、nacles,這是地球上最激動(dòng)人心的自然奇觀some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet.雨季也許早已過(guò)去The rain may be long gone.但沙漠里還是有水.but there is water here.只是儲(chǔ)存在沙生植物特化的組織當(dāng)中.locked away within the tissues of specialist desert plants.仙人掌是美國(guó)沙漠中獨(dú)一無(wú)二的植物Cacti are unique to American deserts.它們肥碩的莖干They all hoard water,有儲(chǔ)水

11、功能storing it in swollen stems葉片特化成刺以防止水分散失and protecting it behind a barricade of spines.這套策略成功地讓它們主宰著這片沙漠Theyreso successful thattheydominatethese deserts.但這片尖刺叢林也給居住在此的動(dòng)物們But this forest of spikes can cause problems 帶來(lái)了很多麻煩for the animals that live here.一只栗翅鷹A Harris Hawk.它練就了在仙人掌林捕食的特殊技能It has de

12、veloped special techniques for hunting amongst the cacti.這是地松鼠Ground squirrels.栗翅鷹的獵物Prey.當(dāng)發(fā)現(xiàn)危險(xiǎn)信號(hào)時(shí)At the first sign of danger地松鼠們迅速躲進(jìn)刺叢中避險(xiǎn)they bolt for the safety of the thorns.但栗翅鷹有法子逼它們出來(lái)But the hawks have a tactic to flush them out.栗翅鷹是唯一成群捕食的猛禽These are the only birds of prey that hunt in packs.

13、它們編隊(duì)飛行Flying in formation,將獵物驅(qū)趕到開(kāi)闊地帶they try to drive their quarry into the open.但這只地松鼠按兵不動(dòng)But this squirrel is staying put.栗翅鷹開(kāi)始改變策略So now the hawks continue the hunt.轉(zhuǎn)為地面追擊.on foot.它們從四面八方逐漸逼近Theyre closing in from all sides.很快封鎖了所有的逃跑路線Soon, all escape routes are cut off.地松鼠陷入絕境The squirrel is tr

14、apped.這片沙漠上的植物幾乎都渾身是刺The spines that cover almost every plant in this desert它們能為動(dòng)物提供了庇護(hù)之所can provide protection and shelter for many animals.可這些尖刺上為什么掛著尸體So, why should these spikes be hung with corpses?如此可怕的場(chǎng)景究竟What kind of creature could be responsible是誰(shuí)的手筆呢for creating such a gruesome scene?這片沙漠里

15、有一位神秘殺手Theres a mysterious killer at work in this desert.一只伯勞鳥(niǎo)Its a butcherbird.就像屠夫用鉤子掛肉This little songbird uses the spines 這只小型鳴禽利用這些刺as a butcher uses his hook.將肢解完的食物懸掛起來(lái)to hold its prey as it dismembers it.幼鳥(niǎo)們嗷嗷待哺葉刺就像是食品儲(chǔ)藏柜And with chicks to feed, he also uses the spines as a larder.他已經(jīng)儲(chǔ)備了好幾個(gè)星

16、期Hes been stocking it for weeks.把獵物掛起來(lái)可以防止地面的食腐動(dòng)物來(lái)爭(zhēng)搶Hanging his prey out of the reach of scavengers on the ground以確保剛出生的幼鳥(niǎo)不會(huì)挨餓ensures that his newly hatched young will never go hungry.為了讓好時(shí)光持續(xù)更久點(diǎn)An ingenious solution這的確是個(gè)巧妙的策略to making the good times last in the desert.雖然有點(diǎn)毛骨悚然.if a little macabre.有

17、的荒漠十分貧瘠Some deserts are so arid,看似寸草不生they appear totally devoid of all vegetation. 但即使是這種地方也能在幾天之內(nèi)煥然新生Yet even these landscapes can be transformedin a matter of days.秘魯荒漠是世界上最干燥的地方之一The deserts of Peru are amongst the driest in the world,休眠了幾個(gè)月的植被只要遇到一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)水but just add a little water and plants that

18、have lain dormant for months便可立即恢復(fù)生機(jī)will burst into life.當(dāng)沙漠突然變?yōu)榫G洲And when a desert suddenly turns green, 即使看似最荒涼的地方even the most seemingly desolate 也能變得生機(jī)勃勃can become a land of opportunity.沒(méi)有什么生物能比蝗蟲(chóng)更早或更轟動(dòng)地No creature exploits the greening of a desert more quickly發(fā)現(xiàn)這抹綠意or more dramatically than a l

19、ocust.馬達(dá)加斯加干旱的西南部Madagascars arid south-west迎來(lái)了近幾年最大的降雨has received its highest rainfall in years.蝗蟲(chóng)大軍正大步行進(jìn)Now, an army is on the march,追尋著新生嫩芽的香氣attractedby thesmell ofnewlysproutinggrass.蝗蟲(chóng)通常獨(dú)居Locusts are normally solitary creatures, 但當(dāng)食物突然充足之時(shí)but when food becomes suddenly plentiful它們便聚集成群以勢(shì)不可擋的氣

20、勢(shì)they come together into an unstoppable force 吞噬沿途所有的植物that devours everything in its path.而這巨大的災(zāi)難正愈演愈烈But this devastation is about to get a lot worse.蝗蟲(chóng)正在變態(tài)為有翅的成蟲(chóng)The locusts now transform into winged adults, 由于生長(zhǎng)環(huán)境良好and with conditions as good as this, 它們發(fā)育的速度達(dá)到平時(shí)的三倍they do so three times faster t

21、han normal.現(xiàn)在到了食欲最旺盛的時(shí)候Now they are at their most voracious.有了翅膀它們就能飛行and with wings, they can take to the skies.一旦上天蝗蟲(chóng)每天可以飛行九十六公里Once airborne, the locusts can travel over 60miles a day去尋找新的覓食區(qū)in their search for new feeding grounds. 如此大規(guī)模的超級(jí)蝗群也許十年才出現(xiàn)一次A super swarm of this scale may only appear on

22、ce in a decade.這個(gè)蝗群遍布518 平方公里This one extends over 200 square miles 共有數(shù)十億只蝗蟲(chóng)and contains several billion individuals.每天能吃掉四萬(wàn)噸食物Between them, they will devour 40,000 tonnes of food in a day.蝗災(zāi)吞噬植被的速度和徹底性Nothing can strip a land of its vegetation with such speed沒(méi)有任何事物能與之比肩and thoroughness as a plague

23、of locusts.當(dāng)食物消耗殆盡時(shí)蝗蟲(chóng)大軍就會(huì)滅亡When the food eventually runs out, the whole army will die.但不等它們寂滅下來(lái)世界早已一片狼藉but not before its devastated the land.沒(méi)有植被固定土壤With no plants to bind them,稀薄的土層很快就會(huì)變成沙塵被風(fēng)吹走thin soils soon turn to dust and blow away.如今這片不毛之地只能任由自然力量擺布Now, these barren lands are left to the merc

24、y of the elements.烈日炙烤加之風(fēng)沙侵襲Scorchedbythesunandscouredbywindblown sand,沙漠巖石形成了奇異非凡的景致desertrockisshapedintostrange,otherworldly landscapes.這片巖質(zhì)沙漠或許看似美好These rocky deserts may have a beguiling beauty,但這里如此荒蕪極少生物能夠適應(yīng)but when they become this barren, very little life can endure.動(dòng)物們想要在最嚴(yán)苛的環(huán)境里活下來(lái)For many

25、 animals, the only way to survive the most hostile times就必須不斷遷移is to keep moving.喀拉哈里沙漠短暫的雨季已被旱季替代In the Kalahari, brief rains have given way to the dry season.食物和水愈發(fā)稀缺Food and water are becoming increasingly scarce.這群斑馬是時(shí)候離開(kāi)了For these zebra, its time to leave.斑馬的遷移距離稱霸Theyre setting off on the long

26、est overland migration所有非洲哺乳動(dòng)物made by any mammal in Africa,嗅著遠(yuǎn)方雨水的味道不斷前進(jìn)marching towards the scent of distant rains.隨著干旱加劇As drought intensifies,沙漠象也必須踏上旅途desert-livingelephants must also undertakelong journeys尋找水源in search of water.年長(zhǎng)的母象能記住哪些地方The older females can remember where, 即使在極端干旱的季節(jié)也會(huì)有水eve

27、n in times of extreme drought, there may still be water有時(shí)她能把象群帶領(lǐng)到and sometimes lead the herd to a water hole 數(shù)十年前去過(guò)的水坑they may not have visited for decades.這群斑馬即將結(jié)束旅程These zebra are almost at the end of their journey.這里就是它們的目的地This is what theyve been heading for.一個(gè)珍貴的水坑.A rare water hole.沙漠里的大部分水坑都

28、轉(zhuǎn)瞬即逝In deserts, most water holes are short lived.它們?cè)谟旰蟪霈F(xiàn)They appear after rains,但以幾乎同樣的速度消失but then vanish almost as quickly as they came.動(dòng)物長(zhǎng)途跋涉來(lái)到這里Animals have come here from many miles around.但在此地逗留可能會(huì)有危險(xiǎn)Yet this can be a dangerous place in which to linger.離水坑九十六公里遠(yuǎn)的沙漠中心60 miles away, in the heart

29、 of the desert, 沙雞的雛鳥(niǎo)正在孵化sandgrouse chicks are hatching.他們待在這里比較安全I(xiàn)ts safer for them to be here.但是離水源那么遠(yuǎn)也有很大風(fēng)險(xiǎn)But being so distant from water is a gamble.只有母親在幫他們遮擋太陽(yáng)With only their mother to shield them fromthe sun,如果沒(méi)有水喝雛鳥(niǎo)會(huì)在數(shù)小時(shí)內(nèi)曝曬而死if they get nothing to drink, they will be deadwithin hours.唯一的希望寄

30、托在父親身上Their only hope is their father.每天早上他都要往返飛行一百九十三公里Every morning he makes the 120-mile round trip為家人帶水回來(lái)to get water for the family.沙雞從四面八方飛來(lái)這片綠洲Grouse from all over the desert visit this oasis, 在這里集結(jié)成群arriving together in large flocks,這十分重要and that is important.數(shù)量越多越安全Theres safety in numbers.

31、雄沙雞抓緊時(shí)間喝了口水The male snatches a drink,但他還要給雛鳥(niǎo)們帶水回去but he also needs to collect water for his chicks.他胸前特化的羽毛Using specially adapted breast feathers, 可以像海綿一樣吸收大量的水he can soak up water like a sponge.不過(guò)這需要時(shí)間而他已身陷危險(xiǎn)But it takes time, and he is in danger.蒼鷹Goshawk.沙雞是他們的主要獵物Sandgrouse here are their main

32、prey.日復(fù)一日雄沙雞都要冒著生命危險(xiǎn)Again and again, the male sandgrouse risk their lives來(lái)給雛鳥(niǎo)采水in order to collect water for their chicks.這就是沙雞巢離水坑如此遠(yuǎn)的原因This is why sandgrouse nest so far from water holes.終于他吸足了水At last, hes soaked up as much as he can.帶著自身體重四分之一的水Carrying a quarter of his body weight in water, 他開(kāi)始

33、漫長(zhǎng)的歸家旅程he can now set off on the long journey home.到家了時(shí)間剛剛好Hes back, and just in time.雛鳥(niǎo)可以喝上第一口水了He can give the chicks their first ever drink.但在未來(lái)兩個(gè)月他依然每天都要But he will have to undertake this perilous journey every day踏上這段危險(xiǎn)的征程for the next two months直到雛鳥(niǎo)長(zhǎng)大until his chicks can finally make the flight

34、 能獨(dú)自飛到水坑to the water hole for themselves.美國(guó)西部?jī)?nèi)華達(dá)州沙漠的七月Its July in thedesertsof Nevada in thewestern United States.是一年中最炎熱的時(shí)候The hottest time of the year.一群群美洲野馬聚集在Bands of wild horses, mustang, are convergingon方圓幾公里內(nèi)僅存的水塘邊one of the last remainingwater holes formiles.水不僅能用來(lái)喝Now, water not only offer

35、s them the chanceto drink,還能借此獲得權(quán)力it can also bring power.如果一頭公馬能夠控制飲水權(quán)If a stallion can control access to water, 便擁有與群中所有母馬交配的權(quán)利he willhave secured mating rights to theentire herd.所以公馬們會(huì)試圖獨(dú)占水塘So stallions try to dominate these pools,趕走所有想要靠近的競(jìng)爭(zhēng)對(duì)手fighting off rivals who venture too close.一位不速之客A str

36、anger.他跋涉了十六公里Hes travelled ten miles to be here 因?yàn)樗诘胤降乃匆呀?jīng)完全干涸because the pools wherehes come fromhave already dried up.他身后跟著一群母馬With him come his females.如果他無(wú)法提供水源她們都會(huì)離開(kāi)If he cant provide them with water, they willleave him跟這匹已經(jīng)占有水池的白馬在一起for the white stallion who already dominates this pool.他必須

37、選擇戰(zhàn)斗So, he will have to fight.這一戰(zhàn)至關(guān)重要There is everything to lose.若是斷了腿或是碎了下巴A broken leg or a shattered jaw就意味著死前將飽受折磨would mean a slow and painful death.沒(méi)踢中一切都結(jié)束了A missed kick, and its all over.新來(lái)的馬取得了勝利The new arrival has won.他所獲得的獎(jiǎng)賞不只是可以喝水a(chǎn)nd his prize is more than just the chance to drink.他為馬群提供

38、了水源與此同時(shí)He has provided for his herd, and in the process,搶走了競(jìng)爭(zhēng)對(duì)手的后宮stolen his rivals females.白馬的統(tǒng)治已經(jīng)結(jié)束The white stallions rule is over.沙漠中不僅水源稀缺Desert life is not only shaped by the scarcity of water,更有炎炎烈日的殘酷炙烤but also by the relentless power of the sun.地球上的最高溫度記錄The highest temperatures on Earth全部出

39、現(xiàn)于沙漠中have all been recorded in its deserts.氣候變化讓這里的溫度Changes in the climate mean temperatures here漲幅和速度都超過(guò)全球平均值are rising more than the global average,隨著溫度升高沙漠也在不斷擴(kuò)散andasdesertsheatup,theyarealsoexpanding.每年都有近十三萬(wàn)平方公里的草地和農(nóng)田Every year, a further 50,000 square miles of grass and farmland變成了貧瘠干涸的塵土沙石ar

40、e turning into barren stretches of dust and rock.一天中最熱之時(shí)In the heat of the day,沙漠地表溫度可達(dá)七十一攝氏度surface temperatures can reach 160 degrees, 大多數(shù)生物都無(wú)法忍受far too hot to handle for most.但這只鏟吻蜥蜴卻可以But not for this shovel-snouted lizard.它將四肢輪流抬起Raising its feet off the ground in turn.短暫降溫一下.enables each to br

41、iefly cool.可即便是這位耐熱性極強(qiáng)的沙漠舞者But even this dancing desert specialist 也無(wú)法長(zhǎng)時(shí)間忍受高溫cant stand the heat for long.一個(gè)辦法是尋找陰涼One option is to find shade.沙丘草是這里唯一的植物近乎無(wú)蔭可尋Dunegrass,theonlyvegetationhere,provides virtually none,但僅僅是沙子表面下幾厘米處but just an inch beneath the surface of thesand,溫度都要低上幾度it is several d

42、egrees cooler.為躲避難耐的高溫 沙漠動(dòng)物有了自己的節(jié)奏Avoiding the extreme heat imposes a rhythm on desert life.許多動(dòng)物都選擇了最簡(jiǎn)單的解決方案.And many animals here choose the simplestoption of all.白天隱匿在各處staying hidden all day,只在涼爽的夜晚外出活動(dòng)and only venturing out in the cool of the night.夜幕降臨動(dòng)物紛紛從各處冒出Asdarknessfalls,animalsappearfroms

43、eemingly nowhere.而這之中必然存在And, among them, inevitably,獵食者are hunters.其中最貪婪的夜間捕食者Oneofthemostvoraciousnocturnalpredators也最難尋覓它們的蹤跡is also one of the hardest to see.這個(gè)神秘的生物This mysterious creature鮮少出現(xiàn)在沙丘表面hardly ever appears on the surface of the dunes.但沙子的移動(dòng)卻泄露了它的行蹤But there are signs on the sand that

44、 can give it away.它只生活在It lives only here,沙粒干燥光滑的地區(qū)where the sand grains are so perfectly dry and polished,讓它們可以如流水般行動(dòng)自如that they flow almost like water.它的體型還沒(méi)有乒乓球大Its no bigger than a ping-pong ball.一只金毛鼴鼠A golden mole.它的視力已完全退化Its totally blind,但地下本來(lái)也沒(méi)有什么可看的buttheresnothingtoseeundergroundanyway.取

45、而代之的是它極佳的聽(tīng)覺(jué)Instead, it has superb hearing.它的頭猶如擴(kuò)音器Its entire head acts as an amplifier 能夠捕捉通過(guò)沙子傳來(lái)的振動(dòng)that picks up vibrations through the sand, 所以 為了定位沙丘表面上的獵物so, to locate prey on the surface of the dune, 它反而矛盾地將臉埋進(jìn)沙子里it has, paradoxically, to thrust its face into the dune.白蟻Termites.雙目失明自然不太好捉Not e

46、asy to catch when youre blind.最好還是切換成隱身模式Far better to go into stealth mode.一旦潛入沙中Once below the sand,金毛鼴鼠可以感知微弱的震動(dòng)it can detect the slightest movement.讓它能發(fā)動(dòng)精準(zhǔn)襲擊allowing it to strike with pinpoint accuracy.大多數(shù)時(shí)候是這樣Well, most of the time.它們一晚可以行進(jìn)1.1 公里They can travel two thirds of a mile a night 來(lái)尋找晚

47、餐in search of its dinner.現(xiàn)在它剛剛發(fā)現(xiàn)了自己的主菜and right now, it has just detected its main course.難怪它有時(shí)候被稱作“沙丘之鯊”Little wonder its sometimes called The shark of the dunes.食物在沙漠中非常稀缺即便是在夜晚Food can be so scarce in the desert that, evenat night,動(dòng)物們也無(wú)權(quán)挑剔自己的飲食animals cant afford to be choosy about whatthey eat.在

48、以色列的內(nèi)蓋夫沙漠Israels Negev desert.中東尖耳蝠沙漠中的長(zhǎng)耳蝙蝠正在捕獵Otonycteris, the desert long-eared bat, is on the hunt.大多數(shù)蝙蝠在飛行中捕捉飛蟲(chóng)Most bats catch flying insects on the wing,但在沙漠中飛蟲(chóng)數(shù)量極少but there are so few of these in the desert 這只蝙蝠必須另尋他路that this bat must do things differently.它必須在地面捕獵It has to hunt on the ground

49、.但真正讓它與眾不同的是它的獵物Butwhatreallysets itapartis whatitshunting.一只以色列金蝎A deathstalker scorpion.這種蝎子的毒液足以毒死一個(gè)人The venom of this species is potent enough to kill a human.捕捉毒蝎對(duì)于僅有 14 克重的蝙蝠來(lái)說(shuō)近乎瘋狂Tackling it seems madness for a bat weighing just half an ounce.周圍一片漆黑In the pitch-black,獵食者和獵物都喪失了視力both predator

50、 and prey are effectively blind, 但是蝎子有一項(xiàng)優(yōu)勢(shì)but the scorpion has one advantage.他能夠通過(guò)沙子的振動(dòng)he can sense the approach of the bat 感知到蝙蝠的靠近through vibrations in the sand.尖耳蝠則要完全依靠自己的聽(tīng)覺(jué)Otonycteris must rely entirely on its hearing.如果蝎子不動(dòng)它就無(wú)法感知其位置If the scorpion doesnt move, it wont knowits there.戰(zhàn)斗打響了The ba

51、ttle is on.憑借強(qiáng)大的雙鉗和一根毒刺Armed with crushing pincers and a sting loaded with venom,這只毒蝎是一個(gè)危險(xiǎn)的對(duì)手this scorpion is a dangerous opponent.蝙蝠腦袋遭到一記猛刺A direct strike on the head.戰(zhàn)斗結(jié)束了嗎Is it all over?對(duì)這只蝙蝠來(lái)說(shuō)并沒(méi)有Not for this bat.尖耳蝠顯然對(duì)毒液有一定的免疫Otonycteris clearly has some immunity to the venom,但連續(xù)的猛刺給它帶來(lái)了難言的劇痛bu

52、trepeatedstingsmuststillbeextraordinarily painful.如果這只蝙蝠不想挨餓And if the bat is not to go hungry,它必須在日出之前再抓住三只蝎子it must catch another three scorpions before sunrise.沙漠動(dòng)物進(jìn)化出了非凡的策略Desert animals have developed remarkable strategies來(lái)充分利用難得的良機(jī)to make the most of the rare opportunities that come their way.

53、雖然有些沙漠也許數(shù)年都不會(huì)下雨Although some deserts may not see rain forseveral years,但大多數(shù)都會(huì)以各種形式儲(chǔ)存少量的水分most will hold a little water in one form oranother.訣竅在于如何獲取水分The trick is simply knowing how to reach it.破曉時(shí)分納米布沙漠的沙丘上Dawn in the dunes of the Namib, 神奇的現(xiàn)象正在發(fā)生and something magical is happening.大西洋沿岸上空的濕空氣Moist

54、 air lying over the neighbouring Atlantic 冷卻并被吹至內(nèi)陸is cooled and blown inland,形成霧堤籠罩沙漠forming fog banks that shroud the desert inmist.這些珍貴的水汽誘人地彌漫在沙丘頂部This precious moisture lies tantalisingly out of reach難以觸及而且不會(huì)久留at the top of the dunes, and it wont last long.太陽(yáng)升起數(shù)小時(shí)后就會(huì)被烤干Itll be burnt off by the s

55、un just hours after it rises.擬步甲狂奔至沙丘頂部Darkling beetles race to the top of the dunes 要趕在薄霧消失之前吸收水分to reach the fog before it vanishes.納米布的沙丘有些高達(dá)300 米Some of the Namibs dunes are 1,000 feethigh,堪稱世界之最the tallest in the world.對(duì)于拇指蓋大小的甲蟲(chóng)來(lái)說(shuō)攀爬距離相當(dāng)于For a beetle no larger than a thumbnail, this is the equi

56、valent人類攀爬一座比珠穆朗瑪峰高兩倍的沙丘of us climbing a dune twice the height of Everest.但更令人印象深刻的是它接下來(lái)的舉動(dòng)But even more impressive is what it does next.身體正直迎面朝風(fēng)Standing perfectly still, facing into the wind,甲蟲(chóng)倒立在沙丘上the beetle does a headstand.薄霧開(kāi)始在它身上凝結(jié)成水滴Fog begins to condense on its body.鞘翅上的小凸起Microscopic bumps

57、 on its wing cases 將水引到通向嘴部的一個(gè)小溝渠里direct the water to grooves thatchannel ittowards the mouth.在回到背風(fēng)坡上之前Before returning down the slip face, 它要喝下百分之四十體重的水分it will drink 40% of its body weight.這只小甲蟲(chóng)學(xué)會(huì)了This little beetle has learned如何在地球上最干燥的地方之一how to conjure water out of the air 從空氣中變出水來(lái)in one of the

58、 driest places on earth.然而它并非沙丘頂部唯一的訪客And its not alone on the top of the dunes.蹼趾虎也采用了相似的辦法Web-footed geckos use a similar trick. 肯定少有動(dòng)物跋涉更遠(yuǎn)的距離去獲取水分Surely, few animals go to greater lengths to get a drink.不幸的是 納米比亞變色龍知道在薄霧彌漫的早晨Unfortunately, Namaqua chameleons know that on foggy mornings,從沙丘上下來(lái)的甲蟲(chóng)t

59、he beetles coming down the dunes 會(huì)比上去的更多汁are juicier than those going up. 在這樣一個(gè)水資源完全匱乏的世界The diversity of life that thrives in a world生物多樣性如此之高確實(shí)令人驚嘆almosttotallydevoidofwateristrulyremarkable.在沙漠中成功存活Success in the desert依靠的是數(shù)百萬(wàn)年進(jìn)化而來(lái)的dependsonanextraordinaryvarietyofsurvival strategies非凡多樣的生存策略that

60、 have evolved over millions of years.但我們的地球正遭受著變故But our planet is changing.世界沙漠的面積在擴(kuò)大溫度更高更加干燥The worlds deserts are growing bigger, hotterand drier,而且在以史無(wú)前例的速度變化著and theyre doing so faster than ever before.沙漠生命在未來(lái)如何存活依舊有待觀察How life will cope here in the future remainsto be seen.拍攝日記在廣闊空曠的沙漠中尋找動(dòng)物Fin