像紧握的手掌
Like grasping hands,
珊瑚的嘴贪婪地过滤水流筛选食物
coral mouths hungrily sift the passing currents for food
不分昼夜
day and night.
我们所说的“珊瑚”是一种原始的囊状水螅
The creature we call ‘coral’ is a primitive sac-like polyp,
一部分是动物 一部分是植物
part animal, part plant.
动物部分以浮游生物为食
The animal part feeds on plankton.
植物部分由细微的水藻—虫黄藻—构成
The plant part consists of microscopic algae –
利用阳光进行光合作用
called zooxanthellae – that photosynthesize using sunlight.
每只水螅都和周围连成一片
Each polyp is connected to its neighbor,
传递能量与营养
passing along energy and nutrients.
它们不断繁衍创造新领地
These polyps multiply to create colonies,
并结合起来形成珊瑚礁
which combine to form reefs.
通过这种方式 整个生态系统的能量
In this way, energy is produced, shared and recycled
得以生产 分享及循环
throughout the entire ecosystem.
利用它们生产的能量 珊瑚不仅蓬勃发展
With the energy they produce, corals not only thrive
而且制♥造♥出用来建造珊瑚礁的
but also manufacture calcium carbonate,
特殊“混凝土” 碳酸钙
the special ‘concrete’ that builds reefs.
这是隐藏在珊瑚巨大帝国建筑背后的秘密之一
This is one secret behind corals’ great empire building.
另一个是无性繁殖
The other is budding.
无性繁殖就是珊瑚虫复♥制♥一个
Budding is a process where coral polyps produce
和自己的基因完全相同的副本
genetically identical copies of themselves
不需要产卵就可拓展它们的领地
and extend their colonies without spawning.
硬珊瑚分泌出碳酸钙基底
The calcium carbonate foundation secreted by hard corals
有些地方的基底有悠久的历史
can be one kilometer thick in places
并可能达到一公里厚
and hundreds of thousands of years old.
我们看到的活礁石只是最上面的薄薄一层
The living reef we see today is just a thin veneer on top,
由许多不同的物种构成
made up of many different species,
包括软珊瑚
including soft corals…
扇珊瑚
..fan corals…
海绵 柳珊瑚和海百合
..and sponges, gorgonians and crinoids.
众所周知 珊瑚已经进化出1000多种硬珊瑚
All told, coral has evolved into more than 1,000 hard coral species
700多种软珊瑚
and over 700 soft corals,
每一种都将自己放在合适的地方
each perfectly specialized to fill its own niche.
了解珊瑚礁的形成
Understanding how corals build reefs
突显了气候变化的严重性
highlights the seriousness of climate change
以及它如何威胁这复杂的生态系统
and how it threatens this complex ecosystem.
海洋像巨大的海绵 一直在吸收大气中的二氧化碳
Our oceans have always absorbed atmospheric CO2 like a giant sponge.
但现在二氧化碳含量过高 导致水中化学成分改变
But now those levels are so high that the water chemistry is changing –
这个过程被称作“海洋酸化”
a process referred to as ‘ocean acidification’.
碱度降低
Alkalinity is falling
自然存在的碳酸根离子受到影响
and naturally-occurring carbonate ions are being affected.
许多海洋生物需要这些离子制♥造♥碳酸钙
Many marine creatures need these ions to produce calcium carbonate
来形成它们的外壳及骨架
for their shells and skeletons.
硬珊瑚需要它们来建造珊瑚礁
Hard corals need them to build reefs.
海洋酸化严重威胁到所有这些过程
Ocean acidification seriously threatens all these processes.
但每一个自然灾害中 有赢家也有输家
But in every natural catastrophe, there are winners and losers.
水母是珊瑚的远亲
Jellyfish are distant relatives of coral,
但不像珊瑚 它们更适应
but unlike coral, they are more adaptable
水温和化学变化
to changes in water temperature and chemistry.
它们的数量还在上升
Their numbers are already on the rise.
让我们的海水变得蜇人
And they are making our seas sting.
珊瑚的另一个古代表亲是海葵
Coral’s other ancient cousin is the sea anemone.
与珊瑚一样
Like coral,
海葵是非常成功的简单生物
the anemone is a simple being that has been highly successful.
事实上 海葵就像一只巨大的珊瑚虫
In fact, the anemone is like a huge coral polyp.
它的中心是一张大嘴
At its center is a mouth
围绕着一大♥片♥带刺的触手
surrounded by a vast mantle of stinging tentacles.
它的嘴里有一个充满酸性酶的巨大的胃
Within the mouth is a big stomach filled with acidic enzymes.
因为海葵没有坚实的身体结构或骨架
Because the anemone does not have a solid physical structure or skeleton,
不依赖于碳酸钙
it does not rely on calcium carbonate,
所以面对海洋酸化 它们不像珊瑚那么脆弱
so it’s not as vulnerable as coral to ocean acidification.
但与珊瑚一样 变暖的海水会使一些
But, like coral, some species possess zooxanthellae algae
含有虫黄藻的品种白化
and warming seas will also cause them to bleach.
在800多种海葵中
There are over 800 species of sea anemone.
有10种是适合小丑鱼居住的
10 are suitable homes for anemone fish
这是珊瑚礁中最奇妙的伙伴关系之一
and this is one of the reef’s most marvelous partnerships.
海葵的触手通常会刺痛入侵者
The anemone’s tentacles normally sting invaders.
但小丑鱼身上有保护粘液
But these fish are coated with a protective mucus
使它们可以进进出出而不受伤害
and can dance in and out unharmed.
小丑鱼很少闲逛到一米以外
The fish rarely wander more than a meter away.
它们需要的所有东西都在这儿
Everything they need is right here –
食物 保护和集聚群体
scraps of food, protection and community.
没有什么可惊奇的
Not surprisingly,
这种鱼在海葵保护范围附近产卵
the fish lay their eggs near the protective folds of the anemone,
供氧并保护它们直至孵化
aerating and defending them until they hatch.
限制在一处并没有影响它们的性生活
And being stuck in one place hasn’t harmed their sex life.
事实上 它们适应了这种生活
In fact, it’s enhanced it.
为了让所有人满意 它们学会了变性
To keep everyone satisfied, they’ve mastered sex change.
如果需要雌性家长 雄性变性
If a dominant female is required, a male can change sex.
如果需要雄性家长
If a dominant male is needed,
低级别雄性会加速性成熟
a subordinate male accelerates into sexual maturity.
随着海洋环境的变化 小丑鱼似乎比大多数种类受到更好的保护
As ocean conditions change, anemone fish seem more protected than most,
它们在带刺武器的怀抱中很安全
safe within those stinging arms.
但是即使它们也不能免受威胁
But even they are not immune from danger.
所有鱼类的内部结构和器官
All fish have internal structures and organs
会随海洋酸化而衰弱
which may be weakened by ocean acidification.
现在 科学家发现
Even now, scientists are finding
鱼类的耳骨受到损伤
that the ear bones of fish are being affected,
这影响到它们的沟通方式
which is impacting the way they communicate.
如果海洋酸化不被遏制
If ocean acidification goes unchecked,
它会影响所有海洋动物的代谢过程
it may affect key metabolic processes for all marine animals.
当状况变得更具挑战性
Whenever conditions get more challenging,
自然选择的过程会更加残酷
the natural process of selection just gets more ruthless.
无法应对的会被迅速淘汰
Those that cannot cope will be quickly cast aside.
每个居民都必须争取它的生存
Every citizen must earn its keep.
这些虾集♥合♥的地点称为“清洁场”
These shrimp gather in locations referred to as ‘cleaning stations’.
这个特殊的地方恰巧也是海鳗的家
This particular station also happens to be the home of a moray eel.
但小虾不逃跑
But the shrimp aren’t running away.
如果可以的话 它们相互竞争以靠得更近
If anything, they’re competing to get closer.
虽然海鳗觉得它们很烦人
And although the eel finds the shrimp irritating,
它也只能苦笑着忍♥受
he just grins and bears it.
这些完全不同的物种
The reason why these entirely different species
相互容忍♥的原因是
tolerate one another
它们有个心照不宣的协议
is because they have an unspoken agreement.
虾需要承担清除寄生虫
The shrimp has the important job of removing parasites
和腐肉的重要工作
as well as dying or dead flesh.
这些对海鳗来说是致命的
These can be fatal to the moray,
却为虾提供了丰盛大餐
but provide a delicious banquet for the shrimp.
动物们忙于应对珊瑚礁中的复杂关系
Animals are engaged in complex relationships right across the reef.
单打独斗是非常冒险的
Going solo is risky business.
如果要尝试 你最好聪明些
And if you’re going to attempt it, you’d better be very clever.
其中一个聪明的生存战术就是伪装
One clever survival tactic is camouflage.
装饰蟹把海绵 珊瑚 海葵附到它的壳上
Decorator crabs attach tiny sponges, corals and anemones to their shells
看上去更像一个行走的花盆
and look more like walking flowerbeds than animals.
其它的试图通过将有毒海绵放头上来隐匿
Others attempt to go incognito by placing toxic sponges on their heads,
像这些名副其实的带帽蟹
like these aptly-named hat-carrying crabs.
海绵是活的生物 但蟹可不在乎
Sponges are living creatures, but the crab doesn’t care,
它们把海绵切成合适自己体型的尺寸
cutting the sponge up into whatever size fits.
其他蟹收集海藻叶
Other crabs collect forest leaves
用作伪装和悬挂式滑翔器
and use them for disguise and as hang-gliders.
拳击蟹把微小的毒海葵当做拳击手套
Boxer crabs are always ready for a fight,
随时准备战斗
with tiny poisonous anemones as boxing gloves.
寄居蟹披挂二手外壳来加固自己的防弹衣
Hermit crabs reinforce their own body armor by wearing second-hand shells.
随着蟹的成长
Bigger shells must be found
它们必须找到更大的外壳
as the crab grows
这让它们有很多塑造独特外形的机会
and this gives the crab lots of time to develop its own unique look.
许多老道的寄居蟹寻找带刺的海葵
More sophisticated hermit crabs collect stinging anemones
换壳的时候把它们弄下来
and will remove these anemones and reattach them
并放到新外壳上
whenever they change shells.
蟹类历史可追溯到2亿年之前的侏罗纪时代
Crabs date back to Jurassic times 200 million years ago