密歇根新闻广播 从气候变化看出鸟类王国的强者和弱者

Some kinds of birds are doing better in our changing climate, and others are declining. These changes are happening in similar ways in both the U.S. and Europe.

Those are the findings of a new study in the journal Science.

Phil Stephens is a senior lecturer in ecology at Durham University in the UK, and he's a lead author of the study.

Stephens and an international team of researchers studied data on more than 500 common species of birds over a 30 year period (1980-2010) in both Europe and the U.S.

"We used those data to make an index of the extent to which the climate has been impacting the common birds," Stephens said. "So that indicator¹ allows us to detect whether climate change has been playing a role in the abundance of those birds, and if so, to what extent," he says. "And our major finding was that it has been playing a detectable² but strong role, and that the extent of the effects on the two continents appears to be very similar."

A snapshot from the study:

US species that are increasing (but with decreases in some southern states)—potentially as a result of changing climates:

Darter (Anhinga)—currently restricted to the southeast but declining in Florida (where climate suitability is declining) and increasing further north.

Cassin's kingbird—found throughout the southwest and into the Rockies, declining in Arizona (where climate suitability has declined) but increasing in the north of its range (where climate suitability is increasing).

Orchard³ oriole—widespread from the Rockies to the east coast is declining in the south (where climate suitability is declining) and increasing in the north (where climate suitability is increasing).

US species that are declining—potentially as a result of changing climates:

Canada warbler—is declining throughout its range in northeast US, where climate suitability has been declining over recent decades.

White-throated sparrow—again, has declining populations and declining climate suitability throughout its breeding range in the northeast US.

Common grackle—widespread from the Rockies to the east coast is declining in most of its range, concomitant with declining climate suitability.

Stephens says some species are doing poorly in the southern end of their range, but they're doing better at the northern edge.

He said warbler numbers in the northeastern U.S. are changing.

"So things you might expect to see in Michigan, are tending to decline there," he said. "Whereas they might be increasing farther north in Canada."

He says birds that rely on specific food sources or narrow preferences for habitats (such as wetlands) are more susceptible⁴ to changes in climate.

Breaking links between species

Stephens says as some bird populations shift north, links between predator⁵ and prey⁶ could break up.

"Communities typically have a long history of co-existence between species," said Stephens. "Let's say for example, the prey they eat, the caterpillars⁷ and so on, and also birds and plants. So there will be a lot of tight linkages⁸ between these pairs of species, and what we're seeing here is a suggestion that climate has already led to major upheavals⁹ in the composition of communities."

He says it'll take time for new linkages to form.

Stephens says one of the most important implications of this study is that it illustrates¹⁰ that we can already see the consequences of climate change.

"We anticipate that climate change will become more pronounced over coming decades and increased in its speed," he says. "I think it reminds us that policymakers, many of who signed up to important commitments to limit emissions¹¹ at last year's Paris Climate Conference, really need to be held to account over that and maybe even become more ambitious in what they're aiming to do."

1 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

2 detectable   

adj.可发觉的；可查明的

参考例句：

• The noise is barely detectable by the human ear.人的耳朵几乎是察觉不到这种噪音的。
• The inflection point at this PH is barely detectable.在此PH值下，拐点不易发现。

3 orchard   

n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场

参考例句：

• My orchard is bearing well this year.今年我的果园果实累累。
• Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。

4 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

5 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。

6 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

7 caterpillars   

n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 )；履带

参考例句：

• Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant. 毛毛虫吃这种植物的嫩叶。
• Caterpillars change into butterflies or moths. 毛虫能变成蝴蝶或蛾子。 来自辞典例句

8 linkages   

n.连接( linkage的名词复数 )；结合；联系；联动装置

参考例句：

• Only the thermosetting resins provide a strong cohesive forces; this is due to molecular cross linkages. 只有热固性树脂具有巨大的凝聚力，这是由于分子交错链所造成的。 来自辞典例句
• The linkages between the stable units must be as near as possible of equal stability. 稳定链节之间的键必须有尽可能接近的稳定性。 来自辞典例句

9 upheavals   

突然的巨变( upheaval的名词复数 )； 大动荡； 大变动； 胀起

参考例句：

• the latest upheavals in the education system 最近教育制度上的种种变更
• These political upheavals might well destroy the whole framework of society. 这些政治动乱很可能会破坏整个社会结构。

10 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

11 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。