Ants Have Big Impact on Environment as "Ecosystem Engineers"
螞蟻?zhàn)鳛椤吧鷳B(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師”對(duì)環(huán)境影響巨大
Research by the University of Exeter1 has revealed that ants have a big impact on their local
?？怂固卮髮W(xué)所做的研究表明，螞蟻?zhàn)鳛椤吧鷳B(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師”和食肉動(dòng)物的行
environment as a result of their activity as "ecosystem engineers" and predators. The study,
為對(duì)當(dāng)?shù)氐沫h(huán)境影響巨大。
published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, found that ants have two distinct effects on their
該研究發(fā)表在動(dòng)物生態(tài)雜志上，它表明螞蟻對(duì)當(dāng)?shù)氐?BR> local environment.
環(huán)境有兩大顯著的影響
Firstly, through moving of soil by nest building2 activity and by collecting food they affect the level of nutrients in the soil. This can indirectly impact the local populations of many animal groups, from decomposers to species much higher up the food chain.
第一，通過(guò)筑巢而挪動(dòng)土壤或采集食物，螞蟻影響土壤的營(yíng)養(yǎng)水平。這可間接影響當(dāng)?shù)貜母锏绞澄镦湼邔拥脑S多動(dòng)物種群的數(shù)量。
Secondly, they prey on a wide range of other animals, including larger prey which can be attacked by vast numbers of ant workers.
第二，它們捕食的動(dòng)物種類很多，包括那些被大量工蟻攻擊的大獵物。
Dirk Sanders, an author of the study from the university's Centre for Ecology and Conservation, said:"Ants are very effective predators which thrive in huge numbers. They're also very territorial3 and very aggressive, defending their resources and territory against other predators. All of this means they have a strong influence on their surrounding area."
Dirk Sanders是該大學(xué)生態(tài)和保護(hù)中心所做的此項(xiàng)研究的作者，他說(shuō)：“螞蟻是高效的食肉動(dòng)物，而且能大量繁殖。它們具有很強(qiáng)的領(lǐng)地意識(shí)，并且會(huì)竭盡全力對(duì)抗其他的食肉動(dòng)物來(lái)保衛(wèi)自己的領(lǐng)地。所有這些都意味著螞蟻對(duì)周圍環(huán)境影響巨大?！?BR> "In this research, we studied for the first time how big this impact is and the subtleties of it. What we found is that despite being predators, their presence can also lead to an increase in density and diversity of other animal groups4. They genuinely play a key role in the local environment, having a big influence on the grassland food web," Sanders said.
“在該研究中，我們第一次對(duì)螞蟻帶來(lái)的影響程度及微妙程度進(jìn)行研究。所得的發(fā)現(xiàn)是：盡管是食肉動(dòng)物，螞蟻的出現(xiàn)能促使其他動(dòng)物族群在數(shù)量和品種上的增長(zhǎng)。并對(duì)當(dāng)?shù)氐沫h(huán)境起到切實(shí)重要的作用，對(duì)大草原的食物鏈影響巨大?！盨anders說(shuō)。
The study, carried out in Germany, studied the impact of the presence of different combinations and densities of black garden ants and common red ants, both species which can be found across Europe, including in the UK. It found that a low density of ants in an area increased the diversity and density of other animals in the local area, particularly the density of herbivores and decomposers. At higher densities ants had no or the opposite effect, showing that predation is counteracting the positive influence.
該研究在德國(guó)進(jìn)行，它對(duì)花園黑螞蟻和一般的紅螞蟻在不同混合程度和不同密度下的影響力進(jìn)行研究。黑螞蟻和紅螞蟻在整個(gè)歐洲包括英國(guó)都能找到。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，一個(gè)地區(qū)的螞蟻密度小，而其他動(dòng)物尤其是食草動(dòng)物和腐生物的數(shù)量和種類會(huì)增多。如果螞蟻的密度大，就不可能產(chǎn)生同樣的影響，或者產(chǎn)生相反的影響，這表明，螞蟻的掠食活動(dòng)會(huì)抵消螞蟻給環(huán)境帶來(lái)的積極影響。
Dr Frank van Veen, another author on the study, said:"What we find is that the impact of ants on soil nutrient levels has a positive effect on animal groups at low levels, but as the number of ants increases, their predatory impacts have the bigger effect ― thereby counteracting the positive influence via ecosystem engineering."
Dr Frank van Veen是本研究的另一作者，他說(shuō)：“我們的發(fā)現(xiàn)是：如果螞蟻的數(shù)量少，其對(duì)土壤的營(yíng)養(yǎng)水平的影響會(huì)對(duì)動(dòng)物族群產(chǎn)生積極的效果。但是如果螞蟻的數(shù)量增加，其捕食的影響會(huì)達(dá)到化，因此會(huì)抵消螞蟻通過(guò)生態(tài)工程給環(huán)境帶來(lái)的積極影響”。
Ants are important components of ecosystems not only because they constitute a great part of the animal biomass5 but also because they act as ecosystem engineers. Ant biodiversity6 is incredibly high and these organisms are highly responsive to human impact, which obviously reduces its richness. However, it is not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem. Ants are important in below ground processes8 through the alteration of the physical and chemical environment and through their effects on plants, microorganisms, and other soil organisms.
螞蟻是生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的重要組成部分，不僅因?yàn)樗加泻艽蟛糠值纳锪?，而且因?yàn)槠渥鳛樯鷳B(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師的角色。螞蟻具有難以想象的多樣性，但極易受人類的影響，這就使它的多樣性有顯著的減少。然而，科學(xué)家還不清楚人類對(duì)螞蟻這種干擾如何破壞螞蟻對(duì)生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護(hù)作用。螞蟻通過(guò)變動(dòng)物理的和化學(xué)的環(huán)境，通過(guò)對(duì)植物、微生物和其他土壤生物的影響而對(duì)生態(tài)環(huán)境起至關(guān)重要的作用。
詞匯：
predator /' predətə/ n.食肉動(dòng)物
nutrient/' nju:triənt/ n .營(yíng)養(yǎng)物;adj.營(yíng)養(yǎng)的
decomposer/,di:kəm'pəuzə/ n.腐生物;分解體
prey/prei/ v.捕食;n.被捕食的動(dòng)物
subtlety/ 'sʌtlti/ n ，微妙，精妙
herbivore/ 'hʒ:bivɔ: / n .食草動(dòng)物
注釋：
1.the University of Exeter ：埃克斯特大學(xué)。1851 年建校，位于英國(guó)西南部重要商業(yè)中心?？怂固厥?，是英國(guó)的傳統(tǒng)大學(xué)之一。
2. nest building ：筑巢
3. territorial ：領(lǐng)地的。在此用來(lái)形容螞蟻的本性，即具有很強(qiáng)的領(lǐng)地意識(shí)，并且會(huì)竭盡全力保衛(wèi)自己的領(lǐng)地。
4. an increase in density and diversity of other animal groups ：其他動(dòng)物群體在數(shù)量和品種上的增長(zhǎng)。
5. biomass ：物質(zhì)名詞，由bio和mass 兩部分組成，意為“生物量”“生物質(zhì)”。
6. biodiversity ：物質(zhì)名詞，由bio和diversity 兩部分組成，意為“生物多樣性”。
7.the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem ：螞蟻對(duì)生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護(hù)作用。
8. below ground processes ：土壤下面的(工作)過(guò)程，即影響生態(tài)環(huán)境的過(guò)程。
練習(xí)：
1 .Why are ants compared to ecosystem engineers? 為什么螞蟻叫生態(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師?
A Because they build their own nests. 因?yàn)樗麄兘⒆约旱某病?BR> B Because they collect food. 因?yàn)樗麄兪占澄铩?BR> C Because their activity affects the environment. 因?yàn)樗麄兊幕顒?dòng)影響環(huán)境。
D Because they are predators. 因?yàn)樗鼈兪锹邮痴摺?BR> 2. As predators, ants作為食肉動(dòng)物，螞蟻
A prey on small as well as large animals. 捕食小型以及大型動(dòng)物。
B collect nutritious food from the soil收集的土壤營(yíng)養(yǎng)食品
C collect food as decomposers. 收集食物分解。
D prey on species much higher up the food chain. 捕食物種更高的食物鏈。
3. Dir Sanders' study centered on how ants迪爾?桑德斯的研究集中在如何螞蟻
A can manage to thrive in huge numbers. 經(jīng)營(yíng)蓬勃發(fā)展，大量。
B defend their resources and territory against other predators. 捍衛(wèi)自己的資源和領(lǐng)土對(duì)其他食肉動(dòng)物。
C attack those invading animals for survival. 攻擊入侵的動(dòng)物生存。
D produce such a big impact on the environment. 產(chǎn)生這樣一個(gè)大環(huán)境影響。
4. What does paragraph 6 tell us? 6段告訴我們什么?
A Ants bring about a negative influence to an area when their population is small. 螞蟻帶來(lái)負(fù)面影響的地區(qū)時(shí)，他們的人口小。
B Ants bring about a positive influence to an area when their population is small. 螞蟻帶來(lái)積極影響的地區(qū)，其人口的小。
C Ants' predation counteracts the positive influence they may have on an area. 螞蟻捕食抵消了積極的影響，他們可能對(duì)一個(gè)地區(qū)。
D At higher density, ants produce a positive influence on an area. 在高密度，螞蟻產(chǎn)生積極影響的地區(qū)。
5. What still remains unclear about ants, according to the last paragraph? 什么仍然不清楚螞蟻，根據(jù)最后一段?
A What roles do ants play in the ecosystem in which they live? 做什么樣的角色打螞蟻在生態(tài)系統(tǒng)中生活
B How do ants affect the animal diversity in a given ecosystem? 螞蟻是如何影響動(dòng)物的多樣性在一個(gè)特定的生態(tài)系統(tǒng)?
C How do human activities affect ants' influence on a given ecosystem? 人類活動(dòng)怎樣影響螞蟻的影響某一特定的生態(tài)系統(tǒng)?
D How do ants alter the physical and chemical environment? 螞蟻是如何改變的物理和化學(xué)環(huán)境?
答案與題解：
1. C 短文的第一段提供了答案。A不是正確答案，因?yàn)椴⒉皇且驗(yàn)槲浵仌?huì)筑巢才被譽(yù)為生態(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師，而是因?yàn)樗鼈冎埠瞳@取食物的方式改變了土壤的營(yíng)養(yǎng)水平，為整個(gè)食物鏈提供了很好的生態(tài)環(huán)境(見(jiàn)第二段)。
2.A答案能夠從短文的第三段直接找到。該段告訴我們，螞蟻的掠食范圍很廣，甚至包括比它們體積更大的動(dòng)物( larger animals) 。 prey 在這里的意思是“捕獵，捕食”，作為動(dòng)詞，后面跟介詞on或upon。
3.D Dirk Sanders說(shuō)：“In this research, we studied for the first time how big this impact is and the
subtleties of it.”(第五段)所以，D是正確選擇。句中the subtleties of it 的意思是：螞蟻對(duì)環(huán)境影響的精妙之處。
4.B 短文第六段第二句的大概意思是，螞蟻數(shù)量小(a low density of ants)的話，能使其他動(dòng)物的品種和數(shù)量增加(increased the diversity and density of other animals)，從而給環(huán)境帶來(lái)積極影響;第三句說(shuō)，如果螞蟻的數(shù)量大(At higher densities)，就不可能產(chǎn)生同樣的影響，或者是相反的影響，這表明，螞蟻的掠食活動(dòng)會(huì)抵銷螞蟻給環(huán)境帶來(lái)的積極影響。第七段Dr Frank van Veen 表達(dá)了大體相同的內(nèi)容。
5.C 最后一段的第二和第三句提供了答案。第二句告訴我們，螞蟻極易受人類的影響(these organisms are highly responsive to human impact)，第三句告訴我們，科學(xué)家還不清楚人類對(duì)螞蟻這種干擾如何破壞螞蟻對(duì)生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護(hù)作用(”it is not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem.”)。
螞蟻?zhàn)鳛椤吧鷳B(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師”對(duì)環(huán)境影響巨大
Research by the University of Exeter1 has revealed that ants have a big impact on their local
?？怂固卮髮W(xué)所做的研究表明，螞蟻?zhàn)鳛椤吧鷳B(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師”和食肉動(dòng)物的行
environment as a result of their activity as "ecosystem engineers" and predators. The study,
為對(duì)當(dāng)?shù)氐沫h(huán)境影響巨大。
published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, found that ants have two distinct effects on their
該研究發(fā)表在動(dòng)物生態(tài)雜志上，它表明螞蟻對(duì)當(dāng)?shù)氐?BR> local environment.
環(huán)境有兩大顯著的影響
Firstly, through moving of soil by nest building2 activity and by collecting food they affect the level of nutrients in the soil. This can indirectly impact the local populations of many animal groups, from decomposers to species much higher up the food chain.
第一，通過(guò)筑巢而挪動(dòng)土壤或采集食物，螞蟻影響土壤的營(yíng)養(yǎng)水平。這可間接影響當(dāng)?shù)貜母锏绞澄镦湼邔拥脑S多動(dòng)物種群的數(shù)量。
Secondly, they prey on a wide range of other animals, including larger prey which can be attacked by vast numbers of ant workers.
第二，它們捕食的動(dòng)物種類很多，包括那些被大量工蟻攻擊的大獵物。
Dirk Sanders, an author of the study from the university's Centre for Ecology and Conservation, said:"Ants are very effective predators which thrive in huge numbers. They're also very territorial3 and very aggressive, defending their resources and territory against other predators. All of this means they have a strong influence on their surrounding area."
Dirk Sanders是該大學(xué)生態(tài)和保護(hù)中心所做的此項(xiàng)研究的作者，他說(shuō)：“螞蟻是高效的食肉動(dòng)物，而且能大量繁殖。它們具有很強(qiáng)的領(lǐng)地意識(shí)，并且會(huì)竭盡全力對(duì)抗其他的食肉動(dòng)物來(lái)保衛(wèi)自己的領(lǐng)地。所有這些都意味著螞蟻對(duì)周圍環(huán)境影響巨大?！?BR> "In this research, we studied for the first time how big this impact is and the subtleties of it. What we found is that despite being predators, their presence can also lead to an increase in density and diversity of other animal groups4. They genuinely play a key role in the local environment, having a big influence on the grassland food web," Sanders said.
“在該研究中，我們第一次對(duì)螞蟻帶來(lái)的影響程度及微妙程度進(jìn)行研究。所得的發(fā)現(xiàn)是：盡管是食肉動(dòng)物，螞蟻的出現(xiàn)能促使其他動(dòng)物族群在數(shù)量和品種上的增長(zhǎng)。并對(duì)當(dāng)?shù)氐沫h(huán)境起到切實(shí)重要的作用，對(duì)大草原的食物鏈影響巨大?！盨anders說(shuō)。
The study, carried out in Germany, studied the impact of the presence of different combinations and densities of black garden ants and common red ants, both species which can be found across Europe, including in the UK. It found that a low density of ants in an area increased the diversity and density of other animals in the local area, particularly the density of herbivores and decomposers. At higher densities ants had no or the opposite effect, showing that predation is counteracting the positive influence.
該研究在德國(guó)進(jìn)行，它對(duì)花園黑螞蟻和一般的紅螞蟻在不同混合程度和不同密度下的影響力進(jìn)行研究。黑螞蟻和紅螞蟻在整個(gè)歐洲包括英國(guó)都能找到。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，一個(gè)地區(qū)的螞蟻密度小，而其他動(dòng)物尤其是食草動(dòng)物和腐生物的數(shù)量和種類會(huì)增多。如果螞蟻的密度大，就不可能產(chǎn)生同樣的影響，或者產(chǎn)生相反的影響，這表明，螞蟻的掠食活動(dòng)會(huì)抵消螞蟻給環(huán)境帶來(lái)的積極影響。
Dr Frank van Veen, another author on the study, said:"What we find is that the impact of ants on soil nutrient levels has a positive effect on animal groups at low levels, but as the number of ants increases, their predatory impacts have the bigger effect ― thereby counteracting the positive influence via ecosystem engineering."
Dr Frank van Veen是本研究的另一作者，他說(shuō)：“我們的發(fā)現(xiàn)是：如果螞蟻的數(shù)量少，其對(duì)土壤的營(yíng)養(yǎng)水平的影響會(huì)對(duì)動(dòng)物族群產(chǎn)生積極的效果。但是如果螞蟻的數(shù)量增加，其捕食的影響會(huì)達(dá)到化，因此會(huì)抵消螞蟻通過(guò)生態(tài)工程給環(huán)境帶來(lái)的積極影響”。
Ants are important components of ecosystems not only because they constitute a great part of the animal biomass5 but also because they act as ecosystem engineers. Ant biodiversity6 is incredibly high and these organisms are highly responsive to human impact, which obviously reduces its richness. However, it is not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem. Ants are important in below ground processes8 through the alteration of the physical and chemical environment and through their effects on plants, microorganisms, and other soil organisms.
螞蟻是生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的重要組成部分，不僅因?yàn)樗加泻艽蟛糠值纳锪?，而且因?yàn)槠渥鳛樯鷳B(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師的角色。螞蟻具有難以想象的多樣性，但極易受人類的影響，這就使它的多樣性有顯著的減少。然而，科學(xué)家還不清楚人類對(duì)螞蟻這種干擾如何破壞螞蟻對(duì)生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護(hù)作用。螞蟻通過(guò)變動(dòng)物理的和化學(xué)的環(huán)境，通過(guò)對(duì)植物、微生物和其他土壤生物的影響而對(duì)生態(tài)環(huán)境起至關(guān)重要的作用。
詞匯：
predator /' predətə/ n.食肉動(dòng)物
nutrient/' nju:triənt/ n .營(yíng)養(yǎng)物;adj.營(yíng)養(yǎng)的
decomposer/,di:kəm'pəuzə/ n.腐生物;分解體
prey/prei/ v.捕食;n.被捕食的動(dòng)物
subtlety/ 'sʌtlti/ n ，微妙，精妙
herbivore/ 'hʒ:bivɔ: / n .食草動(dòng)物
注釋：
1.the University of Exeter ：埃克斯特大學(xué)。1851 年建校，位于英國(guó)西南部重要商業(yè)中心?？怂固厥?，是英國(guó)的傳統(tǒng)大學(xué)之一。
2. nest building ：筑巢
3. territorial ：領(lǐng)地的。在此用來(lái)形容螞蟻的本性，即具有很強(qiáng)的領(lǐng)地意識(shí)，并且會(huì)竭盡全力保衛(wèi)自己的領(lǐng)地。
4. an increase in density and diversity of other animal groups ：其他動(dòng)物群體在數(shù)量和品種上的增長(zhǎng)。
5. biomass ：物質(zhì)名詞，由bio和mass 兩部分組成，意為“生物量”“生物質(zhì)”。
6. biodiversity ：物質(zhì)名詞，由bio和diversity 兩部分組成，意為“生物多樣性”。
7.the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem ：螞蟻對(duì)生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護(hù)作用。
8. below ground processes ：土壤下面的(工作)過(guò)程，即影響生態(tài)環(huán)境的過(guò)程。
練習(xí)：
1 .Why are ants compared to ecosystem engineers? 為什么螞蟻叫生態(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師?
A Because they build their own nests. 因?yàn)樗麄兘⒆约旱某病?BR> B Because they collect food. 因?yàn)樗麄兪占澄铩?BR> C Because their activity affects the environment. 因?yàn)樗麄兊幕顒?dòng)影響環(huán)境。
D Because they are predators. 因?yàn)樗鼈兪锹邮痴摺?BR> 2. As predators, ants作為食肉動(dòng)物，螞蟻
A prey on small as well as large animals. 捕食小型以及大型動(dòng)物。
B collect nutritious food from the soil收集的土壤營(yíng)養(yǎng)食品
C collect food as decomposers. 收集食物分解。
D prey on species much higher up the food chain. 捕食物種更高的食物鏈。
3. Dir Sanders' study centered on how ants迪爾?桑德斯的研究集中在如何螞蟻
A can manage to thrive in huge numbers. 經(jīng)營(yíng)蓬勃發(fā)展，大量。
B defend their resources and territory against other predators. 捍衛(wèi)自己的資源和領(lǐng)土對(duì)其他食肉動(dòng)物。
C attack those invading animals for survival. 攻擊入侵的動(dòng)物生存。
D produce such a big impact on the environment. 產(chǎn)生這樣一個(gè)大環(huán)境影響。
4. What does paragraph 6 tell us? 6段告訴我們什么?
A Ants bring about a negative influence to an area when their population is small. 螞蟻帶來(lái)負(fù)面影響的地區(qū)時(shí)，他們的人口小。
B Ants bring about a positive influence to an area when their population is small. 螞蟻帶來(lái)積極影響的地區(qū)，其人口的小。
C Ants' predation counteracts the positive influence they may have on an area. 螞蟻捕食抵消了積極的影響，他們可能對(duì)一個(gè)地區(qū)。
D At higher density, ants produce a positive influence on an area. 在高密度，螞蟻產(chǎn)生積極影響的地區(qū)。
5. What still remains unclear about ants, according to the last paragraph? 什么仍然不清楚螞蟻，根據(jù)最后一段?
A What roles do ants play in the ecosystem in which they live? 做什么樣的角色打螞蟻在生態(tài)系統(tǒng)中生活
B How do ants affect the animal diversity in a given ecosystem? 螞蟻是如何影響動(dòng)物的多樣性在一個(gè)特定的生態(tài)系統(tǒng)?
C How do human activities affect ants' influence on a given ecosystem? 人類活動(dòng)怎樣影響螞蟻的影響某一特定的生態(tài)系統(tǒng)?
D How do ants alter the physical and chemical environment? 螞蟻是如何改變的物理和化學(xué)環(huán)境?
答案與題解：
1. C 短文的第一段提供了答案。A不是正確答案，因?yàn)椴⒉皇且驗(yàn)槲浵仌?huì)筑巢才被譽(yù)為生態(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師，而是因?yàn)樗鼈冎埠瞳@取食物的方式改變了土壤的營(yíng)養(yǎng)水平，為整個(gè)食物鏈提供了很好的生態(tài)環(huán)境(見(jiàn)第二段)。
2.A答案能夠從短文的第三段直接找到。該段告訴我們，螞蟻的掠食范圍很廣，甚至包括比它們體積更大的動(dòng)物( larger animals) 。 prey 在這里的意思是“捕獵，捕食”，作為動(dòng)詞，后面跟介詞on或upon。
3.D Dirk Sanders說(shuō)：“In this research, we studied for the first time how big this impact is and the
subtleties of it.”(第五段)所以，D是正確選擇。句中the subtleties of it 的意思是：螞蟻對(duì)環(huán)境影響的精妙之處。
4.B 短文第六段第二句的大概意思是，螞蟻數(shù)量小(a low density of ants)的話，能使其他動(dòng)物的品種和數(shù)量增加(increased the diversity and density of other animals)，從而給環(huán)境帶來(lái)積極影響;第三句說(shuō)，如果螞蟻的數(shù)量大(At higher densities)，就不可能產(chǎn)生同樣的影響，或者是相反的影響，這表明，螞蟻的掠食活動(dòng)會(huì)抵銷螞蟻給環(huán)境帶來(lái)的積極影響。第七段Dr Frank van Veen 表達(dá)了大體相同的內(nèi)容。
5.C 最后一段的第二和第三句提供了答案。第二句告訴我們，螞蟻極易受人類的影響(these organisms are highly responsive to human impact)，第三句告訴我們，科學(xué)家還不清楚人類對(duì)螞蟻這種干擾如何破壞螞蟻對(duì)生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護(hù)作用(”it is not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem.”)。