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NigelHughes_Trilobites_2021E-_它是史上最成功的动物吗？_
A procession of segmented creatures moves across the sea floor. 一群节肢动物在海底移动。
Up ahead, hundreds have begun shedding their exoskeletons and piling on top of one another in what appears to be... a massive orgy . 前头有数百只已经开始 脱下牠们的甲壳, 并迭到彼此身上,这场合就像是……
But this is not some alien world. 但这可不是外星世界。
procession:n.行列; v.排队前进; segmented:adj.分段的;v.分割(segment的过去式); creatures:n.生物;动物;(具有某种特征的)人(creature的复数) shedding:v.去除;摆脱;使落下;掉落(货物);(shed的现在分词) exoskeletons:n.[昆]外骨骼; piling:n.打桩;桩材;打桩工程; massive:adj.大量的;巨大的,厚重的;魁伟的; orgy:n.狂欢;放荡;
It’s Earth about 500 million years ago, when these creatures, called trilobites , prospered . 这是大约五亿年前的地球, 这种生物叫做三叶虫, 当时地球是牠们的天下,
Prevailing for around 270 million years and encompassing more than 20,000 distinct species , trilobites are some of the most successful lifeforms in Earth’s history. 在世界上存活了约两亿七千万年, 包含超过两万种不同的物种, 三叶虫是地球历史上 最成功的生命形态之一。
trilobites:n.[古生]三叶虫; prospered:vi.繁荣,昌盛;成功;vt.使…成功;使…昌盛;使…繁荣; Prevailing:adj.流行的;一般的;占优势的;v.盛行,流行;获胜;(prevail的现在分词形式) encompassing:adj.包含的;包容的,环绕;v.围绕,包围(encompass的ing形式); distinct:adj.明显的;独特的;清楚的;有区别的; species:n.[生物]物种;种类;
When they sprung into existence, they were among the most diverse and sophisticated organisms 当牠们出现时, 牠们是最多样化且复杂的有机体,
Earth had yet seen. 在地球上前所未见。
And, as the earliest known animals with complex eyes, trilobites had a unique perspective on the ancient world. 三叶虫也是目前所知 最早具有复眼的动物, 牠们对古老的世界有着独特的视角。
For almost all of Earth’s history before the rise of the trilobites, life had mostly consisted of microscopic marine organisms. 根据地球的历史, 在三叶虫兴起之前, 生命几乎都是海洋里的显微有机体。
diverse:adj.不同的;多种多样的;变化多的; sophisticated:adj.复杂的;老练的;见多识广的;水平高的; organisms:n.[生物]生物体(organism的复数);[生物]有机体; complex:adj.复杂的;合成的;n.复合体;综合设施; unique:adj.独特的,稀罕的;[数]唯一的;n.独一无二的人或物; perspective:n.观点;远景;透视图;adj.透视的; consisted:vi.组成;在于;符合; microscopic:adj.微观的;用显微镜可见的; marine:adj.海的;海产的;海生的;海船的;n.(尤指美国或英国皇家)海军陆战队士兵;
But then, scientists think an increase in oxygen allowed multicellular lifeforms to extract more energy from their food and perform more complex functions. 但科学家认为,后来氧气的增加 得以从食物中取得更多能量,进行更复杂的功能。
This then enabled the rise of carnivores , which in turn spurred a productive arms race , resulting in what’s known as the Cambrian explosion . 这就促成了食肉动物的出现, 牠们激起了一场繁殖力的竞赛, 最后演变为我们所知的寒武纪大爆发。
Within about 20 million years, life had branched out to include most of the animal groups we know today. 在两千万年内, 生命演化并分支,发展出了 现今已知的大多数动物类别。
multicellular:adj.[生物]多细胞的;多空隙的; extract:v.提取;取出;摘录;榨取;n.汁;摘录;榨出物;选粹; perform:v.表演;执行;履行;演出;工作,运转(好/不好); enabled:v.使得;授予…权力;(enabled是enable的过去式) carnivores:n.[动]食肉动物;食虫植物(carnivore的复数); spurred:adj.装有马刺的;有花距的;v.鞭策;教唆(spur的过去分词); productive:adj.能生产的;生产的,生产性的;多产的;富有成效的; arms race:n.军备竞赛; explosion:n.爆炸;爆发;激增;
Trilobites were an important part of this surge . 三叶虫是这波爆增潮的重点动物。
All trilobites had three lengthwise lobes , but building off the same basic components , they varied greatly . 所有的三叶虫都有三块纵向叶, 虽然都是由同样的基本元素组成, 牠们的变化非常多。
Species ranged in length from a few millimeters to almost one meter and some were equipped with intriguing ornaments . 不同种的身长也不同, 从几公厘到近一公尺都有, 有些还配有很有趣的装饰。
surge:n.汹涌;大浪,波涛;汹涌澎湃;巨涌;v.汹涌;起大浪,蜂拥而来; lengthwise:adj.纵长的;adv.纵长地; lobes:n.耳垂;脑叶(lobe的复数形式); components:n.部件;组件;成份(component复数); varied:adj.多变的;各式各样的;杂色的;v.改变;使多样化;(vary的过去式和过去分词) greatly:adv.很,大大地;非常; millimeters:n.毫米;(millimeter的复数) intriguing:adj.有趣的;迷人的;v.引起…的兴趣;策划阴谋;私通;(intrigue的现在分词) ornaments:n.装饰品;首饰;v.装饰;点缀;美化;(ornament的第三人称单数和复数)
As a result , they filled many distinct niches over the ages. 因此,那段时期中出现过 多种形态和习性各异的三叶虫。
Many trilobites plowed or burrowed into the sea floor while others swam freely. 许多三叶虫会在海底犁地或挖洞,
Certain species had spines , horns , and even protruding tridents . 某些物种有脊椎、角, 甚至突出的三叉戟。
And their social behavior was complex: they came together to search for food, find safety in numbers, migrate and mate . 牠们的社交行为也很复杂: 牠们会一起找食物、聚集大量同类增加安全性、迁徙、交配。
As a result:结果; niches:n.[生态]生态位; v.把…放置在壁龛中; plowed:v.耕地;开路;破浪前进;(plow的过去分词和过去式) burrowed:vi.探索,寻找;挖地洞,挖通道;;vt.挖掘,挖出;;n.(兔,狐等的)洞穴,地道; spines:n.[解剖]脊柱;棘状突起;体刺(spine的复数); horns:n.喇叭; v.截锯…的角; protruding:adj.突出的;伸出的;v.突出(protrude的现在分词);伸出; tridents:n.三叉戟;三齿鱼叉;制海权;(trident的复数) migrate:vi.移动;随季节而移居;移往;vt.使移居;使移植; mate:n.助手,大副; v.使配对;
In fact, their fossilized conga lines represent some of the first evidence of animal group behaviour. 事实上,成排的三叶虫留下的化石 是动物群体行为的最早证据。
Like modern arthropods , trilobites had compound eyes composed of many tiny lenses . 就像现代的节肢动物, 三叶虫也有由许多小晶体 组成的复眼。
But theirs were made of the mineral calcite , which also constituted their exoskeletons. 但这些晶体是由方解石构成, 牠们的甲壳也是同样的成分。
fossilized:adj.石化的;僵化的;老化的;v.石化(fossilize的过去式和过去分词); conga:n.康茄舞;vi.跳康茄舞; represent:v.代表;表现;描绘;回忆;再赠送; evidence:n.证据,证明;迹象;明显;v.证明; arthropods:n.[无脊椎]节肢动物(arthropod的复数); compound:v.合成; adj.混合; n.大院; composed:adj.由…组成的; v.组成; (compose的过去分词和过去式) lenses:n.透镜;镜片;(眼球的)晶状体;(lens的复数) mineral:n.矿物;矿物质;汽水;adj.矿物(性)的;含矿物的;无机的; calcite:n.[矿物]方解石; constituted:vt.组成,构成;建立;任命;
These lenses allowed trilobites to form sharp images and quickly sense changes in light. 这些晶体让三叶虫看见锐利的影像, 并快速察觉光线的改变。
Some had long eye stalks that helped them peep above the muddy sea floor as they burrowed beneath . 有些三叶虫有很长的眼柄,让牠们在海底挖洞时 还能看到泥泞的海床上有什么。 还能看到泥泞的海床上有什么。
Others had large dragonfly-like eyes that they probably used to scour the ocean bottom as they swam upside-down in dim waters. 有些三叶虫则具有 如蜻蜓眼般的大眼睛, 可以让牠们在昏暗的水域 顛倒着游泳时, 用来搜寻海底。
sharp:锋利的,尖的 images:n.印象;声誉;形象;画像;雕像;(image的第三人称单数和复数) stalks:n.茎秆(stalk的复数形式); v.悄悄接近; peep:n.偷看;隐约看见,瞥见;vi.窥视;慢慢露出,出现;吱吱叫;vt.使出现; muddy:adj.泥泞的; vt.使污浊; vi.变得泥泞; beneath:prep.在…之下;adv.在下方; scour:vi.冲刷; vt.擦亮,洗涤; n.擦,冲刷; (畜类等的)腹泻; upside-down:adj.颠倒的;乱七八糟的; dim:adj.暗淡的,昏暗的; v.使暗淡,使失去光泽; n.笨蛋,傻子;
And some trilobites had pillar-like eyes that may have offered 360 degree views, along with structures that provided shade from overhead light. 有些三叶虫的眼睛是柱状的, 还有特殊结构,能遮蔽上头的光线。
Yet despite their dominance of the seas, trilobites were vulnerable to environmental changes and predators . 尽管三叶虫是海洋中的强势物种, 牠们很容易受环境改变影响, 也很怕捕食性动物。
About 444 million years ago, Earth cooled and sea levels dropped, radically changing some of their habitats . 大约四亿四千四百万年前, 让牠们的一些栖息地 发生很大的改变。
structures:n.结构; v.建造(structure的第三人称单数形式); provided:conj.假如; v.提供; (provide的过去分词和过去式) shade:n.阴凉处;色度;灯罩;背阴;v.给…遮挡(光线);加灯罩;把…涂暗;画阴影; overhead:n.开销;经常费用;经常开支;adj.头上方的;地面以上的;adv.在头上方;在空中 despite:prep.尽管,不管;n.轻视;憎恨;侮辱; dominance:n.优势;统治;支配; vulnerable:adj.易受攻击的,易受…的攻击;易受伤害的;有弱点的; predators:n.捕食性动物;实行弱肉强食的人(或机构);掠夺者;(predator的复数) radically:adv.根本上;彻底地;以激进的方式; habitats:n.[生态]栖息地;(动植物的)[经]产地(habitat的复数形式);
This was the beginning of what would prove to be the trilobite’s long demise . 后来证实,这就是 三叶虫漫长灭绝之路的开端。
Some 20 million years later, fish with jaws began sweeping the sea. 大约两千万年后,
Trilobites developed spiky ornamentation and neat ways of locking their joints shut. 三叶虫发展出了有刺的装饰, 并演化出很棒的方式 将关节闭锁起来。
Many species could curl themselves into balls, entirely sealing their soft parts inside their hard exoskeletons. 许多物种还能把自己蜷成球形, 把柔软的部位完全 封在坚硬的甲壳里面。
demise:n.死亡,终止;转让;传位;vt.遗赠;禅让; sweeping:n.扫除; adj.影响广泛的; v.打扫; (sweep的现在分词) spiky:adj.大钉一般的;装有大钉的;尖刻的;易怒的;有穗的; ornamentation:n.装饰物; joints:n.关节; v.接合,联合; (joint的第三人称单数和复数) curl:v.卷;蜷缩;鬈曲;(使)成拳曲状;n.(一绺)鬈发;(头发)拳曲;卷状物;螺旋状物;
Then, another extinction event shook the world. 接着,另一场震撼世界的 灭绝事件发生了,
Trilobite diversity dwindled , and come about 360 million years ago, only one of the 10 former trilobite orders remained. 三叶虫的多样性减少, 过去所有的三叶虫目中, 只有十目存活下来。
Finally , rapid climate change spurred the greatest known mass extinction event in Earth's history. 最后,快速的气候变迁 造成了地球史上 已知的最大灭绝事件。
extinction:n.绝种; diversity:n.差异(性):多样性:多样化: dwindled:vi.减少;变小;vt.使缩小,使减少; Finally:adv.终于;最终;(用于列举)最后;彻底地;
This catastrophic period finished the trilobites off— along with approximately 96% of all marine species. 这段灾难性的时期 让三叶虫完全消失, 所有海洋物种中 有近 96% 也难逃此劫。
But trilobites left a remarkable record behind. 但三叶虫留下了非凡的记录。
Their calcite exoskeletons made for hardy fossils that would remain intact for hundreds of millions of years to come. 牠们的方解石甲壳 形成了坚韧的化石, 在接下来的数亿年都维持完好。
catastrophic:adj.灾难的;悲惨的;灾难性的,毁灭性的; approximately:adv.大约,近似地;近于; remarkable:adj.卓越的;非凡的;值得注意的; hardy:adj.坚强的;勇敢的;能吃苦耐劳的;鲁莽的;n.强壮的人;耐寒植物;方柄凿; fossils:n.[古生]化石(fossil复数形式); intact:adj.完整的;原封不动的;未受损伤的;
We’ve found trilobite fossils on every single continent— many in unlikely environments that were once part of the ocean floor. 在每一块大陆上 都找到过找到三叶虫化石, 许多发现地都曾经是海底,
Trilobites have no direct descendants , but their evolutionary cousins are alive and well. 三叶虫没有直系的后代, 但牠们在演化上的表亲 现在仍然活得很好。
And since arthropods make up over 80% of current animal species, we might say that, although Earth may no longer be the planet of the trilobites, their distant relatives still reign supreme . 目前的动物当中 有 80% 都是节肢动物, 我们可以说,虽然地球可能不再是三叶虫的星球, 牠们的远亲仍然在主宰称雄。
unlikely:adj.不大可能发生的;非心目中的;非想象的;难以相信的; descendants:n.后裔;后代;子孙;派生物;(descendant的复数) evolutionary:adj.进化的;发展的;渐进的; distant:adj.遥远的;远处的;久远的; relatives:n.亲戚;亲属;同类事物;(relative的复数) reign:vi.统治;支配;盛行;君临;n.统治;统治时期;支配; supreme:adj.最高的;至高的;最重要的;n.至高;霸权;