拥有这种捕猎技巧 难怪头足纲动物
With this kind of hunting prowess, it’s no wonder
成功地谱写了在珊瑚礁的生存故事
the cephalopods have been such a success story on the reef
无疑它们也将会在未来统治海底很多年
and will no doubt rule the seabed for eons to come.
珊瑚礁不仅对常住居民很重要
Reefs are not only important to their permanent residents,
对很多访客来说也很重要
but also to many oceanic visitors.
常有强烈的洋流以和上升流带来的丰富食物
Strong currents and rich upwellings of food often occur around reefs
出现在珊瑚礁周围 这吸引了魟鱼等流浪者
and attract nomads such as rays.
事实上 依赖珊瑚礁生存的海洋生物
In fact, the total number of marine creatures dependent on coral reefs
不计其数
is immeasurable.
可能有700万个物种在生活在这里
Perhaps as many as seven million species coexist here.
超过4000种热带鱼与珊瑚礁有关
Over 4,000 species of tropical fish are associated with coral reefs,
其中75%依靠珊瑚礁生存
of which 75% depend on the reef for their survival.
也许它们看起来像是彩色纸片
They may look like just colorful confetti,
但每种鱼都有自己的个性
but each fish is its own individual.
鱼类有嗅觉 听觉 视觉和触觉
Fish can smell, hear, see and touch.
它们能感受到疼痛并且有复杂的关系
They feel pain and have complex relationships.
绝大多数的珊瑚礁鱼类都会界定领地
The vast majority of reef fish have defined home ranges.
珊瑚礁供养 收容它们 使它们远离掠食者
The reef sustains them, houses them and conceals them from predators.
就像被隐形的线拴着的小风筝
Like tiny kites on invisible strings,
鱼儿在心爱的珊瑚礁周围徘徊
the fish hover above their beloved reefs,
只在觅食时冒险出去一下
venturing only far enough to snatch a meal,
除此之外与珊瑚形影不离
but otherwise inseparable.
鱼类和珊瑚之间的关系
The connection between fish and coral
是大自然的最持久的爱情故事之一
is one of nature’s most enduring love stories.
人类从珊瑚和海洋的
Humans too benefit from a healthy relationship with coral
健康关系中获益良多
and the seas at large.
珊瑚礁在海中创造障碍物保护海岸线
Reefs create barriers to the sea and protect shorelines.
许多药物是从珊瑚礁中提炼出的
Various life-saving medicines are extracted from reefs.
海洋的衍生化学品被用来治疗许多疾病
Ocean-derived chemicals are used to treat many illnesses,
包括癌症
including cancer.
微小的海藻处理大气中的二氧化碳
Microscopic marine algae processes our atmospheric CO2
并产生70%的氧气
and produces 70% of the oxygen we breathe.
因此 像这些鱼一样 我们的生存需要健康的海洋
So, like these fish, we need healthy oceans to survive
还需要健康的珊瑚礁保护家园
and reefs to secure our homes.
不论在陆地上还是海底
In both our terrestrial world and the undersea,
创造与毁灭总是在不断地循环
there have been constant cycles of creation and destruction.
大自然的规则就是混乱
The rule of nature is chaos.
尽管珊瑚礁看上去很和谐
Although a reef looks harmonious,
它和其它生态系统一样混乱
it’s as chaotic as any other ecosystem.
其中一种在混乱中生存的方法就是
And one of the ways to survive chaos,
不论你在海面上还是海面下
whether you’re above or below the surface,
都要和别人合作
is to cooperate.
这种合作叫做共生
This cooperation is called symbiosis,
是一种存在于两种
a mutually beneficial relationship
不同物种间的互惠关系
between two entirely different species.
如果不能把自己变得有用的话
These little blue and black striped wrasse would be perfect fish food
这种蓝黑相间的小濑鱼将是完美的鱼食
if they hadn’t made themselves so useful.
它们是靠清洁工作赚取来赢得生存的裂唇鱼
They’re cleaner wrasse and earn their keep by cleaning.
这项服务如此重要
So vital is this service
以致于感激的主人从不敢吃掉它们
that none of their grateful hosts would ever dare to eat them.
当双方都获利时 平衡关系随即建立
Both parties benefit and a form of balance is achieved.
珊瑚礁中有种稳定的张力
There is constant tension on the reef
因为不同的物种在平衡中活动
as different species work out this balance
并努力延长它们在历史中逗留的时间
and try to maximize their moment in history.
对某些大鱼来说
For some of the bigger fish,
那段时间常被延伸到数十年
that moment used to stretch into decades.
有些甚至有一个世纪或更多
Some even lived for a century or more.
但是高龄者日益少见
But old age is a rarity now
标志性的珊瑚礁物种就在我们眼前消失
and iconic reef species are vanishing even as we watch.
野生神仙鱼的寿命有10到15年
Angelfish live for 10 to 15 years in the wild
是珊瑚礁中最可辨的生物之一
and are some of the reef’s most recognizable species.
它们被收藏者视若珍宝
They are highly prized by collectors
但不幸的是 很多只能在水族馆度过漫长的一生
and, tragically, many live out their long lives in aquaria.
池中的鱼就像笼中的鸟
A fish in a tank is like a bird in a cage –
我们可以观察它们 却对其野生状况知之甚少
we’re able to observe them but we get little idea of their wildness.
只有在这里 珊瑚礁中
It’s only here, on the reef,
我们才能真正体会鱼类的生活有多么复杂
that we can truly appreciate just how complex a fish’s life can be.
有的神仙鱼没有固定伴侣
Some angelfish are promiscuous,
有的因生活所需结合在一起
some bond for life,
有的则是一夫多妻
others have male-driven harems.
许多鱼类 包括这种纤美的三棘高身鲉
And many fish, including these delicate leafed scorpionfish,
忙于进行长时间的求偶仪式
engage in long courtship rituals.
每周都会发现新的鱼类
New species of fish are discovered every week,
每一个发现都成为新信息的财富
and with each discovery comes a wealth of new information.
有的每天产卵
Some spawn daily,
其它的直到20或30岁才开始繁殖
others do not begin breeding until they are 20 or 30 years old.
许多生命开始时是雄性 结束时却是雌性
Many start life as a male but die a female.
大多数具有高度社会性
Most are highly social
其智力超过我们的理解
and have intelligence beyond our comprehension.
像在非洲平原上的牛羚和斑马
Like wildebeest and zebra on the African plains,
刺尾鱼和鹦嘴鱼一起吃草
tangs and parrotfish often graze together.
它们都是食草动物
Both fish are herbivores
以藻类甚至活珊瑚为食
and dine on algae and even live coral.
其它种类则聚集在珊瑚礁顶部
Other species converge on the reef crest.
这里暴露在波浪和阳光下
This area is exposed to wave action and lots of sunlight
有丰富的营养
and is rich in nutrients.
花尾连鳍鱼会搬动石块
Fish like this rock-mover wrasse
来寻找蠕虫和软体动物
literally move rocks in the search of worms and mollusks.
这样的觅食很辛苦
Dining this way is hard work,
所以它们并不总是愿意分享觅食地
and they’re not always willing to share their patch.
其它鱼类挖掘基底并吞下一大口沙子
Others excavate the substrate and swallow large mouthfuls of sand.
它们的身体是为过滤沙中的海藻
Their bodies are specially designed to filter the sand for algae,
并通过腮排除废物而专门设计的
dispelling waste through their gills.
不是什么时候都能去珊瑚礁顶部
Access to the reef crest is limited.
只有涨潮并风平浪静时
It’s only at certain tides and during calm seas
才可能在那里觅食
that it’s possible to feed here.
万事俱备
When all the conditions are right,
鱼儿从几英里外游来抓住这个难得的机会
fish arrive from miles around to take advantage of this rare opportunity.
有的成双成对 有的独来独往
Some are in couples, others dine alone,
完全不同的生物一起觅食
and completely different species feed side by side.
这是生物多样性的最佳状态
It’s biodiversity at its best.
古怪的泥土搬运工 比如鲀鱼
Eccentric earth-movers, like triggerfish,
也加入到晚宴中
also join the dinner party.
它们会用强有力的喙
They use their powerful beaks to cast aside whole chunks of coral,
抛开整块珊瑚
as they search for clams,
寻找蛤蜊 虾和蟹
shrimp and crabs.
它们已经无暇顾及餐桌礼仪了
They’re much too busy to worry about their table manners.
像人类的城市
Like a human city,
珊瑚礁作为调和混乱的角色
a reef boasts an eclectic jumble of characters
不同生物各有自己的生活选择
conducting themselves in a variety of ways.
有独行侠 流浪者
There are loners and drifters.
有的进行秘密集♥会♥
There are clandestine meetings
地下活动
and underground movements.
有的小心机警
There are the watchful and the wary.
各种方式的自我表现
And different forms of self-expression.
就像在城市中一样 有奇怪的联盟出现
As in all of our cities, strange alliances occur…
古怪的时尚也可容忍♥
..and odd fashion is tolerated.
无论美丑都有一席之地
Every beauty and beast has its place.
珊瑚礁和陆地一样 24小时为一周期
Just like the terrestrial world, a reef has a 24-hour cycle.
当下午的阳光开始黯淡
As the afternoon light begins to fade,
这些软鱼产卵后便马上离开
fish, like these anthias, spawn with abandon,
它们知道夜晚即将到来
knowing that night will soon follow
并利用夜色保护鱼卵
and conceal their eggs.
这时 小鱼抖动身体
Meanwhile, tiny fish shudder their bodies,
表明它们做好了交♥配♥的准备
indicating their readiness to mate.
无数的昼行鱼被苍茫的暮色刺♥激♥
And countless other daytime fish are inspired by the waning light
开始献殷勤或繁殖
to court or breed.
一对管口鱼跳着诱人的剑舞
Here, a pair of flutemouths engage in a seductive sword dance.
这是管口鱼式的“前戏”
It’s their form of foreplay,
并且已经持续了好几小时
and they’ve been at it for hours.