Ants Have Big Impact on Environment as "Ecosystem Engineers"
螞蟻作為“生態(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師”對環(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所做的研究表明，螞蟻作為“生態(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師”和食肉動物的行
environment as a result of their activity as "ecosystem engineers" and predators. The study,
為對當?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)表在動物生態(tài)雜志上，它表明螞蟻對當?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，通過筑巢而挪動土壤或采集食物，螞蟻影響土壤的營養(yǎng)水平。這可間接影響當?shù)貜母锏绞澄镦湼邔拥脑S多動物種群的數(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是該大學生態(tài)和保護中心所做的此項研究的作者，他說：“螞蟻是高效的食肉動物，而且能大量繁殖。它們具有很強的領地意識，并且會竭盡全力對抗其他的食肉動物來保衛(wèi)自己的領地。所有這些都意味著螞蟻對周圍環(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，我們第一次對螞蟻帶來的影響程度及微妙程度進行研究。所得的發(fā)現(xiàn)是：盡管是食肉動物，螞蟻的出現(xiàn)能促使其他動物族群在數(shù)量和品種上的增長。并對當?shù)氐沫h(huán)境起到切實重要的作用，對大草原的食物鏈影響巨大?！盨anders說。
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.
該研究在德國進行，它對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行研究。黑螞蟻和紅螞蟻在整個歐洲包括英國都能找到。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，一個地區(qū)的螞蟻密度小，而其他動物尤其是食草動物和腐生物的數(shù)量和種類會增多。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，螞蟻的掠食活動會抵消螞蟻給環(huán)境帶來的積極影響。
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：“我們的發(fā)現(xiàn)是：如果螞蟻的數(shù)量少，其對土壤的營養(yǎng)水平的影響會對動物族群產(chǎn)生積極的效果。但是如果螞蟻的數(shù)量增加，其捕食的影響會達到化，因此會抵消螞蟻通過生態(tài)工程給環(huán)境帶來的積極影響”。
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，不僅因為它占有很大部分的生物量，而且因為其作為生態(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，科學家還不清楚人類對螞蟻這種干擾如何破壞螞蟻對生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護作用。螞蟻通過變動物理的和化學的環(huán)境，通過對植物、微生物和其他土壤生物的影響而對生態(tài)環(huán)境起至關(guān)重要的作用。
詞匯：
predator /' predətə/ n.食肉動物
nutrient/' nju:triənt/ n .營養(yǎng)物;adj.營養(yǎng)的
decomposer/,di:kəm'pəuzə/ n.腐生物;分解體
prey/prei/ v.捕食;n.被捕食的動物
subtlety/ 'sʌtlti/ n ，微妙，精妙
herbivore/ 'hʒ:bivɔ: / n .食草動物
注釋：
1.the University of Exeter ：?？怂固卮髮W。1851 年建校，位于英國西南部重要商業(yè)中心?？怂固厥校怯膫鹘y(tǒng)大學之一。
2. nest building ：筑巢
3. territorial ：領地的。在此用來形容螞蟻的本性，即具有很強的領地意識，并且會竭盡全力保衛(wèi)自己的領地。
4. an increase in density and diversity of other animal groups ：其他動物群體在數(shù)量和品種上的增長。
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 ：螞蟻對生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護作用。
8. below ground processes ：土壤下面的(工作)過程，即影響生態(tài)環(huán)境的過程。
練習：
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. 因為他們建立自己的巢。
B Because they collect food. 因為他們收集食物。
C Because their activity affects the environment. 因為他們的活動影響環(huán)境。
D Because they are predators. 因為它們是掠食者。
2. As predators, ants作為食肉動物，螞蟻
A prey on small as well as large animals. 捕食小型以及大型動物。
B collect nutritious food from the soil收集的土壤營養(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)自己的資源和領土對其他食肉動物。
C attack those invading animals for survival. 攻擊入侵的動物生存。
D produce such a big impact on the environment. 產(chǎn)生這樣一個大環(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. 螞蟻帶來負面影響的地區(qū)時，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，他們可能對一個地區(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? 螞蟻是如何影響動物的多樣性在一個特定的生態(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，因為并不是因為螞蟻會筑巢才被譽為生態(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師，而是因為它們筑巢和獲取食物的方式改變了土壤的營養(yǎng)水平，為整個食物鏈提供了很好的生態(tài)環(huán)境(見第二段)。
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物( larger animals) 。 prey 在這里的意思是“捕獵，捕食”，作為動詞，后面跟介詞on或upon。
3.D Dirk Sanders說：“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)境帶來積極影響;第三句說，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，螞蟻的掠食活動會抵銷螞蟻給環(huán)境帶來的積極影響。第七段Dr Frank van Veen 表達了大體相同的內(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，科學家還不清楚人類對螞蟻這種干擾如何破壞螞蟻對生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護作用(”it is not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem.”)。
螞蟻作為“生態(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師”對環(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所做的研究表明，螞蟻作為“生態(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師”和食肉動物的行
environment as a result of their activity as "ecosystem engineers" and predators. The study,
為對當?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)表在動物生態(tài)雜志上，它表明螞蟻對當?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，通過筑巢而挪動土壤或采集食物，螞蟻影響土壤的營養(yǎng)水平。這可間接影響當?shù)貜母锏绞澄镦湼邔拥脑S多動物種群的數(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是該大學生態(tài)和保護中心所做的此項研究的作者，他說：“螞蟻是高效的食肉動物，而且能大量繁殖。它們具有很強的領地意識，并且會竭盡全力對抗其他的食肉動物來保衛(wèi)自己的領地。所有這些都意味著螞蟻對周圍環(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，我們第一次對螞蟻帶來的影響程度及微妙程度進行研究。所得的發(fā)現(xiàn)是：盡管是食肉動物，螞蟻的出現(xiàn)能促使其他動物族群在數(shù)量和品種上的增長。并對當?shù)氐沫h(huán)境起到切實重要的作用，對大草原的食物鏈影響巨大?！盨anders說。
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.
該研究在德國進行，它對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行研究。黑螞蟻和紅螞蟻在整個歐洲包括英國都能找到。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，一個地區(qū)的螞蟻密度小，而其他動物尤其是食草動物和腐生物的數(shù)量和種類會增多。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，螞蟻的掠食活動會抵消螞蟻給環(huán)境帶來的積極影響。
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：“我們的發(fā)現(xiàn)是：如果螞蟻的數(shù)量少，其對土壤的營養(yǎng)水平的影響會對動物族群產(chǎn)生積極的效果。但是如果螞蟻的數(shù)量增加，其捕食的影響會達到化，因此會抵消螞蟻通過生態(tài)工程給環(huán)境帶來的積極影響”。
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，不僅因為它占有很大部分的生物量，而且因為其作為生態(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，科學家還不清楚人類對螞蟻這種干擾如何破壞螞蟻對生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護作用。螞蟻通過變動物理的和化學的環(huán)境，通過對植物、微生物和其他土壤生物的影響而對生態(tài)環(huán)境起至關(guān)重要的作用。
詞匯：
predator /' predətə/ n.食肉動物
nutrient/' nju:triənt/ n .營養(yǎng)物;adj.營養(yǎng)的
decomposer/,di:kəm'pəuzə/ n.腐生物;分解體
prey/prei/ v.捕食;n.被捕食的動物
subtlety/ 'sʌtlti/ n ，微妙，精妙
herbivore/ 'hʒ:bivɔ: / n .食草動物
注釋：
1.the University of Exeter ：?？怂固卮髮W。1851 年建校，位于英國西南部重要商業(yè)中心?？怂固厥校怯膫鹘y(tǒng)大學之一。
2. nest building ：筑巢
3. territorial ：領地的。在此用來形容螞蟻的本性，即具有很強的領地意識，并且會竭盡全力保衛(wèi)自己的領地。
4. an increase in density and diversity of other animal groups ：其他動物群體在數(shù)量和品種上的增長。
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 ：螞蟻對生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護作用。
8. below ground processes ：土壤下面的(工作)過程，即影響生態(tài)環(huán)境的過程。
練習：
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. 因為他們建立自己的巢。
B Because they collect food. 因為他們收集食物。
C Because their activity affects the environment. 因為他們的活動影響環(huán)境。
D Because they are predators. 因為它們是掠食者。
2. As predators, ants作為食肉動物，螞蟻
A prey on small as well as large animals. 捕食小型以及大型動物。
B collect nutritious food from the soil收集的土壤營養(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)自己的資源和領土對其他食肉動物。
C attack those invading animals for survival. 攻擊入侵的動物生存。
D produce such a big impact on the environment. 產(chǎn)生這樣一個大環(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. 螞蟻帶來負面影響的地區(qū)時，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，他們可能對一個地區(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? 螞蟻是如何影響動物的多樣性在一個特定的生態(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，因為并不是因為螞蟻會筑巢才被譽為生態(tài)系統(tǒng)工程師，而是因為它們筑巢和獲取食物的方式改變了土壤的營養(yǎng)水平，為整個食物鏈提供了很好的生態(tài)環(huán)境(見第二段)。
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物( larger animals) 。 prey 在這里的意思是“捕獵，捕食”，作為動詞，后面跟介詞on或upon。
3.D Dirk Sanders說：“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)境帶來積極影響;第三句說，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，螞蟻的掠食活動會抵銷螞蟻給環(huán)境帶來的積極影響。第七段Dr Frank van Veen 表達了大體相同的內(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，科學家還不清楚人類對螞蟻這種干擾如何破壞螞蟻對生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的維護作用(”it is not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem.”)。