All life is driven by the need to breed. 所有的生命都是由繁殖的需要驱动的
Though,for a few, 不过 对于一些人来说
the odds of doing so are overwhelmingly against them. 这样做的可能性是压倒性的
The deep ocean. 深海
The largest and least-populated habitat on Earth. 地球上最大、人口最少的栖息地
Those that live here appear to come from another world . 住在这里的人似乎来自另一个世界
and much of their lives are spent alone in the blackness. 他们的大部分生命都是在黑暗中度过的
So finding any potential partner is hard, 所以很难找到任何潜在的合作伙伴
and getting the timing right is even harder. 而要把握好时机就更难了
Such an extreme game of chance 如此极端的机会游戏
has led to one of the most bizarre strategies of all. 导致了所有策略中最奇怪的策略之一
A fanfin anglerfish. 扇鳍琵琶鱼
On her belly,she has what seems to be an odd-looking fin. 在她的腹部 她有一个看起来很奇怪的鳍
It is,in fact,a tiny parasitic male anglerfish. 事实上 它是一种微小的寄生雄性琵琶鱼
When he met her, 当他遇到她时
it was his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity 这是他一生难得的机会
to secure a mate. 寻找配偶
So he bit into her. 所以他咬了她一口
His blood system fused with hers. 他的血液系统与她的血液系统融合
Now he is entirely dependent on her. 现在他完全依赖她了
So much so,that when she dies,he will die,too. 她死了 他也会死
Until then,his sole function in life is to fertilise her eggs. 在那之前 他生命中唯一的功能就是让她的卵子受精
This extreme commitment 这种极端的承诺
ensures that both can succeed 确保两者都能成功
in their bizarre version of the mating game. 在他们奇怪的交配游戏中
Most creatures that play the mating game 大多数玩交配游戏的生物
must solve major problems if they are to succeed. 如果他们要成功 就必须解决重大问题
But among these sand dunes in Russia, 但在俄罗斯的这些沙丘中
where howling winds can transform an unstable landscape, 狂风可以改变不稳定的景观
the challenge for one animal 一种动物的挑战
is almost overwhelming. 几乎势不可挡
A male toad-headed agama. 一只雄性蟾蜍 头为阿加玛
He spends his entire life on this dune. 他一生都在这个沙丘上度过
Once a year,he'll try to find a mate. 一年一次 他会试着找一个伴侣
She would only be interested if he has a suitable burrow 只有他有一个合适的洞穴 她才会感兴趣
in which she can lay her eggs. 她可以在里面产卵
But in his world of shifting sands, 但在他的流沙世界里
good burrows are hard to come by. 好的洞穴很难找到
And when the wind is strong, 当风大的时候
they can be lost in a matter of minutes. 它们可能会在几分钟内消失
So he's keen to attract a female as quickly as he can. 所以他渴望尽快吸引一位女性
And his black-tip tail is his way of doing so. 他的黑色尖尾就是这样做的
He's been noticed. 他被注意到了
Now he must entice her back to his burrow. 现在他必须引诱她回到他的洞穴
Instead,she replies with an invitation of her own. 相反 她以自己的邀请回信
He tries again - with more vigour. 他又试了一次——更有活力
She still doesn't move. 她还是一动不动
Turns out . 结果是
she already has a burrow . 她已经有一个洞穴了
and is not about to abandon such a valuable property. 也不会放弃这么宝贵的财产
Which presents him with a dilemma. 这让他进退两难
Accepting her invitation may mean he gets a mate, 接受她的邀请可能意味着他有了伴侣
but leaving means he risks losing his burrow to a rival male. 但离开意味着他有可能把自己的洞穴丢给竞争对手
What to do? 怎么办？
Desire gets the better of him, 欲望战胜了他
and he hotfoots it over to her place. 他把它搬到了她的地方
But after a closer look . 但仔细观察之后
she decides he's not for her. 她觉得他不适合她
And while his back is turned . 当他转身的时候
the worst has happened. 最坏的情况已经发生了
A rival male has spotted his unguarded burrow. 一只雄性竞争对手发现了它没有守卫的洞穴
But he won't give it up without a fight. 但他不会不战而退
Each flanks the other 两旁
and tries to make themselves look bigger. 努力让自己看起来更大
The intruder is seen off . 入侵者被送走了
but it's a hollow victory. 但这是一场空洞的胜利
The wind picks up,and sand engulfs the contested burrow. 风越来越大 沙子吞没了有争议的洞穴
As it disappears . 当它消失时
so do his chances of success - 他的成功机会也是如此-
until the wind dies down,and he can try again. 直到风停下来 他可以再试一次
Territory may be important for some . 领土对某些人来说可能很重要
but the need to find a mate is vital for all. 但寻找伴侣的需要对所有人来说都是至关重要的
One solution is to devote a lifetime to just one partner. 一个解决办法是只为一个伴侣奉献一生
But that only works when there are enough to go round. 但这只有在有足够的资金周转时才有效
A Laysan albatross. 莱桑信天翁
For over half the year, 半年多以来,
she has scoured the vast Pacific alone, 她独自在辽阔的太平洋上搜寻
searching for food. 寻找食物
And now she is returning 现在她回来了
to her breeding grounds in Hawaii. 去她在夏威夷的繁殖地
Laysans pair for life. 一辈子一对
Repeated displays cement their long-term relationship. 反复的展示巩固了他们的长期关系
It takes two adults to raise just one chick . 两个成年人只养一只小鸡
so a partner willing to share the burden of parenthood 所以一个愿意分担为人父母责任的伴侣
is the difference between success and failure. 是成功与失败的区别
But this female is on her own. 但这只雌性是靠她自己的
She was seduced and then abandoned by an unfaithful male. 她被一个不忠的男人勾引后抛弃了
Adulterous males play no further part 通奸的男性不再扮演更重要的角色
in looking after their extramarital eggs. 照顾他们的婚外情
She cannot raise her chick alone. 她不能独自抚养她的小鸡
She must find a partner. 她必须找个搭档
All the available males here are already taken . 这里所有可用的雄性都已经被带走了
but she hasn't exhausted her options just yet. 但她还没有用尽她的选择
A new arrival catches her eye. 一个新来的人引起了她的注意
But she needs to discover 但她需要发现
whether this is a partner she can rely on . 这是否是她可以信赖的伴侣
and she does so by suggesting a dance. 她建议跳支舞
They seem a perfect match. 他们看起来很般配
But it's a match with a difference . 但这是一场不同的比赛
because her dance partner . 因为她的舞伴
is another female. 是另一位女性
This duet confirms their commitment . 这个二重唱证实了他们的承诺
to raising a chick together. 一起抚养一只小鸡
Within a few days, 几天之内,
she lays a single large egg. 她下了一个大蛋
The effort drains her of energy. 这种努力耗尽了她的精力
To recover,she must head back to sea to feed. 为了恢复健康 她必须返回大海去喂食
And while she's away,she is totally reliant 当她不在的时候 她是完全依赖的
on her new-found partner to incubate her egg. 在她新找到的伴侣身上孵蛋
She must put all her trust in her if they are to succeed. 如果他们要成功 她必须完全信任她
Three weeks later,she's back . 三周后 她回来了
well fed,and ready to take her turn. 吃饱了 准备轮到她了
But something is wrong. 但有点不对劲
Her precious egg has been pushed out of the nest. 她的宝贝蛋已被推出巢外
It seems she couldn't trust her partner,after all. 看来她毕竟不能信任她的伴侣
Worse still . 更糟糕的是
while she's been away . 当她不在的时候
her partner has also laid an egg! 她的搭档也下了一个蛋！
It turns out she,too,had mated 原来她也已经交配了
before entering this relationship. 在进入这种关系之前
But two eggs create a problem. 但是两个鸡蛋会产生问题
They can only incubate one . 他们只能孵化一个
because both must take turns to feed. 因为他们必须轮流喂食
The urge to incubate her own egg is overwhelming. 想要孵化自己的卵子的冲动是压倒性的
But the chick within 但是里面的小鸡
has grown cold,and died. 已经变冷了 死了
So she devotes herself 所以她献身于
to the only egg left alive. 给唯一活着的蛋
Her partner's. 她的搭档的
Two months later . 两个月后
Her decision pays off. 她的决定得到了回报
She is not related to the chick . 她和那个小鸡没有亲戚关系
but this seemingly selfless act 但这似乎是无私的行为
is part of her long-term strategy. 这是她长期战略的一部分
This female couple may be together 这对女性夫妇可能在一起
for half a century or more, 半个多世纪以来,
and will take turns 而且会轮流
raising each other's chicks. 互相抚养小鸡
Adulterous males will always take advantage when they can. 通奸的男性在可能的时候总会占便宜
But by alternating whose egg is incubated . 但通过交替培养谁的卵子
both these females have found a way to achieve lifetime success. 这两位女性都找到了一种获得终生成功的方法
Long-term relationships can increase the chances of success, 长期关系可以增加成功的机会
but some animals only get one opportunity to breed - 但是有些动物只有一次繁殖的机会-
and that creates the highest-stakes game of all. 这创造了所有游戏中赌注最高的游戏
In the Sonoran Desert, 在索诺兰沙漠
the Earth is starting to move. 地球开始移动了
A male digger bee. 雄性挖掘蜜蜂
He's spent his entire life underground . 他一生都在地下度过
waiting for this moment to arrive. 等待这一刻的到来
It's the breeding season . 现在是繁殖季节
and he's emerged with just one purpose. 他只有一个目的
To find a mate. 找个伴侣
This is his only opportunity to do so. 这是他这样做的唯一机会
Because,in a few days' time . 因为 几天后
he will be dead. 他会死的
To give him an edge, 给他一个优势
his sense of smell is among the best of all bees. 他的嗅觉是所有蜜蜂中最好的
The female he's looking for 他要找的那个女人
is still buried beneath the desert sand. 仍然埋在沙漠的沙子下面
Her intoxicating perfume seduces him . 她那令人陶醉的香水勾引了他
even before she emerges . 甚至在她出现之前
and it drives him crazy. 这让他发疯
But a bigger rival is quick to displace him. 但一个更大的对手很快就会取代他
The odds are stacking up against him. 他的胜算越来越大
More males are arriving by the minute. 每分钟都有更多的雄性到达
Like him,each needs to mate . 像他一样 每个人都需要交配
and they will die trying. 他们会死的
If he is to succeed, 如果他想成功
he must also do whatever it takes. 他也必须不惜一切代价
Once again,he picks up the scent of a female . 他又一次闻到了一只雌性的气味
and once again, 再一次
his rivals aren't far behind. 他的对手紧随其后
Just as he digs her out . 就在他把她挖出来的时候
they pounce. 他们突然袭击
As yet more join in, 还有更多的人加入进来
he risks being trapped at the centre of the ball 他有被困在球中央的危险
and cooked alive by their body heat. 用它们的体温活生生地煮熟
No longer able to defend her 再也不能为她辩护了
he flees. 他逃跑了
He's forced away from the battleground - 他被迫离开战场-
where there is little competition, 在几乎没有竞争的地方
but far fewer females. 但女性要少得多
He picks up a scent no-one else has. 他闻到了别人闻不到的气味
This is his last chance. 这是他最后的机会
They mate immediately, 它们立刻交配
and he passes his sperm to her. 他把他的精子传给她
But this is far from the end of his story. 但他的故事还远远没有结束
As long as her perfume lingers, 只要她的香水还在
rivals will be attracted to mate with her . 竞争对手将被吸引与她交配
and he can't risk that happening. 他不能冒发生这种事的风险
He's already inseminated her, 他已经给她授精了
yet it is only now 但这只是现在
that he starts to court her. 他开始追求她
He must convince her she needs no other than him - 他必须说服她 她只需要他-
and to do that,he seduces her 为了做到这一点 他勾引了她
with a rasping call . 用刺耳的叫声
and may anoint her with his own scent. 用他自己的气味来涂抹她
Only when she shows no further interest in mating . 只有当她对交配不再感兴趣时
and her heady perfume has gone . 她那令人陶醉的香水也不见了
can he be sure that he is the only one 他能确定他是唯一一个吗
she will ever breed with . 她将永远与
and he releases her. 然后他释放了她
For both of them, 对他们两个来说,
their mating game is over. 他们的交配游戏结束了
She now devotes all her time 她现在把所有的时间都投入了
to being a responsible mother - 做一个负责任的母亲-
gathering pollen and nectar 采集花粉和花蜜
for their offspring. 为了他们的后代
As for her seductive partner? 至于她迷人的伴侣？
He will pay no further part in their lives. 他不会在他们的生活中付出更多
He's fathered the next generation 他是下一代的父亲
and ensured no rival will replace him. 并确保没有对手会取代他
Time . 时间
to die. 去死
Living long enough to mate 长寿到可以交配
is a challenge faced by all animals. 这是所有动物都面临的挑战
But one creature is forced to travel extraordinary distances 但有一种生物被迫走很远的路
to have any chance of doing so. 有机会这样做
North America,in late summer. 北美洲 夏末
Beneath the leaf of a milkweed plant, 在马利筋植物的叶子下面
a male monarch butterfly 雄帝王蝶
is completing his final transformation. 正在完成他的最后转变
As an adult, 作为一个成年人
he's driven by a single goal . 他只有一个目标
the need to mate. 需要交配
But he cannot do so yet. 但他还不能这样做
And he cannot do so here. 他不能在这里这样做
His mating game is bound to the only plant 他的交配游戏注定是唯一的植物
on which monarchs lay their eggs. 君主在上面产卵
Milkweed. 马利筋
Without it,monarchs cannot breed. 没有它 君主就无法繁衍后代
But winter is coming. 但是冬天来了
The milkweed here won't reappear until next summer, 这里的马利筋要到明年夏天才会出现
and he cannot survive winter's extreme cold. 他无法在冬天的严寒中生存
So he is forced to undertake one of the greatest migrations on Earth. 因此 他被迫进行地球上最伟大的迁徙之一
Driven ever southwards, 不断向南行驶
it's a gruelling journey of nearly 3,000 miles . 这是一次近3000英里的艰苦旅程
and takes two months to complete. 需要两个月才能完成
His destination is a small mountain hillside in Mexico. 他的目的地是墨西哥的一个小山坡
Hundreds of millions of monarchs 数亿君主
have made the same journey to this refuge. 我也到过这个避难所
They are all here 他们都在这里
because only this forest has exactly the right conditions 因为只有这片森林才有合适的条件
for waiting out the winter. 为了等待冬天的到来
Smaller males like him only just make it. 像他这样体型较小的雄性动物只能勉强生存
All must rely on their remaining reserves of energy 所有这些国家都必须依靠剩余的能源储备
to survive until next spring. 活到明年春天
So for those that arrive already exhausted, 所以对于那些已经精疲力竭的人来说
the odds of doing so are against them. 这样做的可能性对他们不利
A winter storm spells disaster. 冬季风暴意味着灾难
Those already on the edge do not make it. 那些已经处于边缘的人不会成功
In spring,the sun's warmth brings the survivors 春天 阳光的温暖带给幸存者
cascading back to life. 层叠而生
And among them,the small male. 其中有一只小雄性
All are now ready to breed. 它们现在都准备好繁殖了
Many will head north in search of milkweed 许多人将向北寻找马利筋
that is starting to reappear. 这已经开始重现
But not all are still capable of making that journey. 但并不是所有人都能完成这一旅程
The smaller male is almost spent . 体型较小的雄性几乎要花光了
so,to have any chance of breeding, 所以 为了有繁殖的机会
he resorts to a desperate strategy. 他采取了绝望的策略
A drink gives him just enough for his final act. 一杯酒刚好够他做最后一幕
Among those leaving their winter refuge, 在那些离开冬季避难所的人中
he's looking for a large,healthy female. 他在找一个又大又健康的女人
One with enough strength to survive longer than him 一个有足够力量比他活得更长的人
and find the fresh milkweed. 找到新鲜的马利筋
He's spotted her. 他发现了她
Grabbing her,he clings on with all his remaining might 他抓住她 用尽余力紧紧抓住
as he forces her to the ground. 他把她逼到地上
Here,he mates. 在这里 他是朋友
It's a violent act,born of desperation. 这是一种暴力行为 源于绝望
But he has survived long enough to breed. 但他已经存活了足够长的时间来繁殖
And in doing that, 这样做
he has beaten enormous odds. 他战胜了巨大的困难
Grabbing any chance to mate may be the difference 抓住任何交配的机会可能是不同的
between winning and losing the mating game. 在输赢交配游戏之间
But sometimes,those that are defeated 但有时 那些被打败的人
still find a way to pass on their genes, 仍然在寻找一种方法来传递他们的基因
despite the impossible odds stacked against them. 尽管他们面临着不可能的困难
It's spring in south Texas . 这是德克萨斯州南部的春天
and wild turkeys are coming together 野生火鸡正在聚集在一起
at their traditional breeding grounds. 在它们传统的繁殖地
Each year,colourful adult males - known as toms - 每年都会有色彩斑斓的成年雄性——被称为汤姆-
compete for female attention. 争夺女性注意力
Calling .lets them know they've arrived. 打电话 让他们知道他们已经到了
The toms have a strict pecking order. 汤姆一家有严格的啄食顺序
And this male . 而这个男性
is at the very bottom of it. 在它的最底层
So is his brother. 他的兄弟也是
And at the top . 在顶端
their dominant brother. 他们占统治地位的兄弟
As long as he is around, 只要他在身边
the other two won't get a look in. 另外两个不会进去看一眼
But that doesn't mean their mating game is over. 但这并不意味着他们的交配游戏结束了
Instead,their strategy is to abandon their own desires, 相反 他们的策略是放弃自己的欲望
and support their high-status sibling . 支持他们的高地位兄弟姐妹
creating a formidable band of brothers. 创造了一个强大的兄弟乐队
It's the females that choose who they mate with. 是雌性选择与谁交配
They're all looking for the best male, 他们都在寻找最好的男人
and they assess them on the splendour of their display. 他们用他们的精彩表演来评价他们
With enough flamboyance, 足够华丽
the band of brothers can woo not just one female, 兄弟会不仅可以追求一位女性
but all the hens here. 但是这里所有的母鸡
And their chances are greatest 他们的机会最大
when they display together. 当它们一起显示时
With his two wingman by his side, 他的两个僚机在他身边
the dominant tom is out to impress. 占主导地位的汤姆想要给人留下深刻印象
But they aren't the only males that use teamwork. 但他们不是唯一使用团队合作的男性
A rival band of toms. 敌对的汤姆乐队
They,too,are looking to win over all the hens. 他们也希望能赢得所有的母鸡
With so much at stake, 事关重大
the band of brothers cannot give way. 兄弟会不能让步
But it's not the dominant Tom who takes a lead. 但并不是占主导地位的汤姆领先
It's his low-ranking brothers 是他的低级兄弟
that peel off to intercept them. 它会脱落去拦截它们
As the feathers fly, 当羽毛飞舞时
the high-ranking brother takes full advantage. 高级别的兄弟充分利用了这一优势
They try to keep their rivals at bay . 他们试图阻止他们的对手
so their brother can get on with mating. 这样他们的兄弟就可以继续交配了
It's all for one . 这都是为了一个人
and one for all. 一个给所有人
Because each time he mates, 因为每次他交配
he also passes on many of the genes 他还遗传了许多基因
he shares with his brothers. 他和他的兄弟们分享
So through the success of the dominant tom, 所以通过占主导地位的汤姆的成功
the siblings at the bottom of the pecking order 处于啄食顺序最底层的兄弟姐妹
also succeed in the mating game . 在交配游戏中也成功了
and all without ever mating themselves. 而且都没有交配过
Waiting for the right moment to breed 等待合适的时机繁殖
is vital in any mating strategy . 在任何交配策略中都是至关重要的
and many choose to do so in spring, 许多人选择在春天这样做
when food is readily available. 当食物随时可用时
But mating during this period poses a sizeable challenge . 但在这一时期交配是一个相当大的挑战
especially if you ARE the menu. 特别是如果你在菜单上
Periodical cicadas. 定期蝉
About four centimetres long, 大约四厘米长
they don't bite or sting. 它们不咬人也不刺人
For many forest inhabitants, 对于许多森林居民来说
that makes them the perfect meal. 这使他们成为完美的一餐
Hundreds of cicadas perish before their mating game has even begun. 成百上千的蝉在交配游戏开始之前就已经死亡了
But millions more do survive, 但还有数百万人活了下来
overwhelming the predators as they gather in the canopy. 当捕食者聚集在树冠上时 将其压倒
Here,they form the greatest mating choir on Earth. 在这里 它们组成了地球上最伟大的交配合唱团
Only the males sing. 只有雄性会唱歌
A female is enticed by a male's call . 一只雌性被一只雄性的叫声吸引
and responds . 并回答
with a wing flick. 用翅膀轻弹
Each one lets him know she's interested . 每个人都让他知道她对
and draws him a little closer. 把他拉近一点
As they meet,his serenade changes. 当他们相遇时 他的小夜曲变了
If it's still to her liking, 如果她还喜欢的话
he'll get the chance to mate. 他会有机会交配的
But this is only part of the strangest 但这只是最奇怪的一部分
and longest mating game of all. 最长的交配游戏
Once she's mated,she bores into a tree 一旦交配 她就会在树上钻孔
and lays up to 500 eggs 最多能产500个蛋
Two months later . 两个月后
newly hatched nymphs drop to the ground . 刚孵出的若虫掉到地上
bury themselves, 埋葬自己
and attach to tree roots. 并附着在树根上
These cicadas won't be seen again for 17 years. 这些蝉在17年内都不会再出现了
This remarkable strategy ensures that, 这一卓越的战略确保
when they do re-emerge to breed, 当它们重新出现繁殖时
their predators have long given up waiting. 它们的捕食者早已放弃等待
And what's more - they all emerge at the same time 更重要的是 它们同时出现
to once again overwhelm any predators that are around. 再次制服周围的捕食者
Their first instinct is to climb the nearest tree. 他们的第一反应是爬最近的树
They cannot mate yet. 它们还不能交配
For that . 为此
they must take their adult form. 他们必须采取成人的形式
It takes time for soft white flesh to harden. 柔软的白色果肉需要时间才能变硬
Until then,the newly formed adult cicadas are especially vulnerable. 在此之前 新形成的成年蝉尤其脆弱
Though,for this brood, 但是 对于这一窝
it isn't predators that they need to be most wary of. 它们最需要警惕的不是捕食者
It's their own kind. 这是他们自己的类型
In the 17 years they have lain hidden, 在17年的时间里 他们被隐藏起来
the forest above them has been transformed. 他们上面的森林已经被改造了
Many of the trees have been chopped down. 许多树被砍倒了
As a consequence,tens of thousands of cicadas 因此 数万只蝉
are forced to climb the few trees that remain. 被迫爬上剩下的几棵树
In the crush,nymphs clamber over the emerging adults . 在拥挤的人群中 若虫爬上新生的成虫
and puncture . 还有刺穿
newly formed skin with their needle-sharp claws. 新形成的皮肤 有着针尖的爪子
The wounds are fatal. 伤口是致命的
Soon the trees are surrounded 很快树就被包围了
by mountains of the dead and the dying. 在死者和垂死者的群山旁
All have been prevented from mating by odds they could not overcome. 由于无法克服的困难 它们都被阻止交配
Their failure to breed is a result of rapid changes in their habitat . 它们无法繁殖是栖息地迅速变化的结果
caused by the one species that rivals any animal on Earth 由一种能与地球上任何动物匹敌的物种引起
in its ability to breed successfully. 成功繁殖的能力
Us. 我们
In the last 17 years, 17年来,
our population has increased 我们的人口增加了
by over 1.4 billion. 超过14亿
We have overcome most of life's challenges . 我们已经克服了生活中的大部分挑战
and,as a result, 因此
we have become the most dominant species on the planet. 我们已经成为地球上最具优势的物种
But our success has come at a cost. 但我们的成功是有代价的
We have converted wild habitat 我们已经改变了野生栖息地
to suit our needs . 为了满足我们的需要
and have done so on an unprecedented scale. 并以前所未有的规模这样做
One consequence of our actions 我们行动的一个后果
is that we have destroyed the ability of other species to breed. 我们破坏了其他物种的繁殖能力
And now we face a mass extinction of animals 现在我们面临着动物的大规模灭绝
like no other in human history. 这是人类历史上独一无二的
If we are to help those that remain . 如果我们要帮助那些留下来的人
we must figure out exactly what they need to play the mating game. 我们必须弄清楚他们到底需要什么来玩交配游戏
And until we do that, 在我们这样做之前
we are creating an insurance policy,should the very worst happen. 如果最坏的情况发生 我们正在制定一份保险单
Cryobanks. 冷冻库
A global network freezes and stores the DNA of many species . 一个全球网络冻结并储存了许多物种的DNA
including those on the brink of extinction. 包括那些濒临灭绝的人
These blueprints for life 这些人生蓝图
are a vital resource for both research and conservation . 是研究和保护的重要资源
and are already being used to help those struggling to survive. 并且已经被用来帮助那些挣扎求生的人
A male black-footed ferret. 一种雄性黑脚雪貂
He is searching for a mate in the last remnants 他正在寻找最后的伴侣
of the North American prairies. 产于北美大草原
But his chances of success are slim. 但他成功的机会微乎其微
He is one of less than 400 left in the wild. 他是仅存的不到400人中的一个
And all are descended from just seven individuals. 所有这些都是七个人的后代
So even if he does find a mate, 所以即使他真的找到了伴侣
they may be too closely related 他们可能关系太密切了
to have healthy young. 要有健康的孩子
But,thanks to science, 但是 多亏了科学
one very special ferret 一只非常特别的雪貂
may change his mating game forever. 也许会永远改变他的交配游戏
Meet Elizabeth Ann. 见见伊丽莎白·安
She really is one of a kind . 她真的是独一无二的
because Elizabeth Ann is a clone. 因为伊丽莎白·安是克隆人
She has been created from the frozen cells 她是从冰冻的细胞中创造出来的
of a ferret that died over 30 years ago. 一只30多年前死去的雪貂
She isn't closely related to any of the other ferrets, 她和其他雪貂都没有亲缘关系
so the chances of producing healthy offspring with her are much higher. 因此 与她一起生育健康后代的几率要高得多
Should we wish,we now have the ability 如果我们愿意 我们现在有能力了
to breed any animal - or at least save its tissues 繁殖任何动物 或至少保存其组织
until we discover how. 直到我们发现如何
But,in the world we have created, 但是 在我们创造的世界里
there is more that is needed 还需要更多
to ensure long-term success in the mating game. 确保交配游戏的长期成功
In China,scientific breakthroughs with captive breeding 在中国 圈养繁殖的科学突破
have led to a remarkable success story . 带来了一个非凡的成功故事
and a vital lesson. 这是一个重要的教训
A baby giant panda. 一只小熊猫
He is the first in 40 years 他是40年来的第一个
to be born into a world 出生在一个世界
where giant pandas are no longer endangered. 大熊猫不再濒危的地方
He's the product of a captive breeding programme 他是圈养繁殖计划的产物
that began over half a century ago . 那是半个多世纪前开始的
and has now increased their population by more than 600. 现在他们的人口增加了600多人
But,in spite of that success, 但是 尽管取得了成功
there was a problem. 有个问题
The young pandas were completely dependent on their keepers. 小熊猫完全依赖饲养员
Ill-equipped to survive in the wild, 没有能力在野外生存
they didn't have the experience they needed to breed naturally. 他们没有自然繁殖所需的经验
And that was all because no-one fully understood 这一切都是因为没有人完全理解
what giant pandas needed to play their mating game. 大熊猫需要什么来进行交配游戏
For decades,we assumed that we could breed captive-born pandas 几十年来 我们一直认为我们可以繁殖圈养出生的熊猫
by simply becoming matchmakers. 通过成为媒人
All we had to do was put a female panda . 我们所要做的就是放一只雌性熊猫
together with a male panda . 和一只雄性熊猫在一起
and let nature take its course. 顺其自然
But nature . 但是大自然
DIDN'T take its course. 没有顺其自然
It turns out that giant pandas 原来是大熊猫
are extremely fussy about who they mate with. 他们对自己的配偶非常挑剔
If a female is paired with a male who . 如果一只雌性与一只雄性配对
just doesn't do it for her . 只是不适合她
then the date fails completely. 那么日期就完全失败了
Yet giant pandas have been on the planet 然而 大熊猫一直生活在这个星球上
for at least two million years - 至少有两百万年了-
surely they can't be that bad at breeding! 它们的繁殖能力肯定不会那么差吧！
Clearly,we were missing something. 显然 我们遗漏了一些东西
Field research revealed that female pandas 实地调查显示雌性大熊猫
need to choose a mate for themselves. 需要为自己选择伴侣
And to do that, 要做到这一点
they need trees. 他们需要树
Adult giant pandas lead solitary lives 成年大熊猫过着孤独的生活
and only come together when it's time to breed. 只有到了繁殖的时候才能聚在一起
Up here,a female can advertise when she's ready to mate . 在这里 女性可以在准备交配时做广告
pick the best of the males she attracts . 从她吸引的男性中挑选最好的
and avoid any she doesn't fancy. 避免任何她不喜欢的
These lessons are now changing how we help captive-bred giant pandas 这些教训正在改变我们如何帮助圈养大熊猫
to play a more natural mating game. 玩一个更自然的交配游戏
This mother was raised by keepers. 这位母亲是由饲养员抚养长大的
Her chances of going back to the wild have gone. 她回到野外的机会已经没有了
But for her spirited cub . 但对于她那充满活力的幼崽
there is a brighter future. 有一个更光明的未来
By being raised by her mother 由她母亲抚养长大
in a more natural environment - away from keepers - 在一个更自然的环境中-远离饲养员-
she's learning the skills she will need to survive in the wild. 她正在学习在野外生存所需的技能
It'll be at least two years before she's ready. 至少要过两年她才能准备好
But if she shows enough independence, 但如果她表现出足够的独立性
she will be released into native forest nearby, 她将被释放到附近的原始森林
and have a fighting chance of entering into the mating game 并有机会进入交配游戏
on her own terms. 按她自己的方式
And now,her odds of doing so have never been better. 而现在 她这样做的几率从未如此之大
In the last 40 years,the Chinese authorities 在过去40年中 中国当局
have doubled the amount of protected panda habitat, 保护的熊猫栖息地数量翻了一番
and have even more planned. 并且有更多的计划
And,remarkably,in the same time, 值得注意的是 与此同时
the wild population has increased by nearly a thousand. 野生种群增加了近千
All without a human matchmaker in sight. 都看不到一个媒人
Left alone,wild pandas have created almost twice the number 如果不加以考虑 野生大熊猫的数量几乎是野生大熊猫的两倍
that the very best artificial breeding programme 这是最好的人工繁殖计划
could have created. 可能已经创造了
Turns out giant pandas aren't that bad at breeding,after all. 事实证明 大熊猫毕竟在繁殖方面并不差
If we are to reverse our impact on the natural world, 如果我们要扭转对自然世界的影响
the solution is simple and very clear. 解决方案简单明了
We must protect and regenerate natural habitats. 我们必须保护和恢复自然栖息地
If we can do that, 如果我们能做到这一点
then the mating game can be relied upon 那么交配游戏就可以信赖了
to create future generations. 创造后代
To film animals' mating behaviour, 拍摄动物的交配行为
camera teams need to be in the right place at the right time. 摄制组需要在正确的时间在正确的地点
Most mating behaviours are infrequent,fleeting, 大多数交配行为是罕见的 短暂的
and often unpredictable. 而且常常是不可预测的
Perhaps the rarest breeding event 也许是最罕见的繁殖事件
the Mating Game team attempted to film 交配游戏小组试图拍摄
only happens once in every 17 years. 每17年才发生一次
Starting next week,billions - if not trillions - of tiny invaders 从下周开始 数十亿——如果不是万亿的话——小型入侵者
will begin their assault on nearly all of the country 将在全国范围内展开攻击
east of the Mississippi River. 密西西比河以东
We are talking about Brood X Cicadas. 我们正在谈论孵卵的蝉
They've been laying in wait for 17 years 他们已经等了17年了
until the time and temperature is right to begin 直到合适的时间和温度开始
their deafening descent upon millions of Americans. 他们震耳欲聋的血统影响了数百万美国人
There was a gazillion of them. 他们有无数
They were just swarming crazy. 他们都快疯了
And the noise - it was just fascinating. 还有噪音 真是太迷人了
They're so thick around the tree in my front yard, 它们在我前院的树上密密麻麻的
that the .odour,the stench is to the point 那 气味 臭味就说到点子上了
where it's almost unbearable,at least for me. 这几乎让我无法忍受 至少对我来说
And when they first was coming out,I thought they were disgusting 当他们刚出来的时候 我觉得他们很恶心
but now I kind of like them! 但现在我有点喜欢他们了！
To film this emergence of periodical cicadas, 为了拍摄定期出现的蝉
the crew teamed up with lifelong cicada expert John Cooley. 船员们与终身蝉专家约翰·库利合作
So how did I get interested in cicadas? 那我是怎么对蝉感兴趣的呢？
Well,as .As you can see,they're a lot of fun to play with, 嗯 作为 正如你所见 他们玩起来很有趣
and they always have some new trick up their sleeves, 他们总是有一些新的技巧
and this one has really decided that he likes this microphone 而这个人真的决定了他喜欢这个麦克风
an awful lot,and so he's going to attempt to mate with it. 太多了 所以他要试着和它交配
This emergence has only happened three times in his lifetime, 在他有生之年 这种情况只发生过三次
so John has more reason than most to be present at the event. 因此 约翰比大多数人更有理由出席这次活动
John's knowledge is extensive, 约翰知识渊博
but one unique skill proves most useful 但有一项独特的技能证明是最有用的
when filming their mating strategies . 在拍摄他们的交配策略时
That was an interference buzz. 这是一个干扰嗡嗡声
he can speak cicada. 他会说蝉语
Let's do it. 让我们做吧
This gives the crew a great advantage in their attempts 这给船员们的尝试带来了巨大的优势
to capture the courtship rituals 捕捉求爱仪式
of these remarkable insects. 这些非凡的昆虫
I can whistle louder and more pure tone than the male cicadas, 我能吹出比雄蝉更响亮更纯正的口哨
so I can give kind of a supernormal stimulus 所以我可以给你一种超常的刺激
that will get the female to wing flick. 这将使女性的翅膀轻弹
And I can also duet to myself - I can whistle and . 我也可以和自己二重唱-我可以吹口哨和
do that to get the male to call. 这样做是为了让男人打电话
So what I did was I kind of stepped into that interaction 所以我所做的是我介入了这种互动
to get the female to wing flick 让雌性翅膀轻弹
and also to get the male back into a mode 也是为了让男性重新进入一种状态
where he was calling.So that was manipulated. 他打电话的地方 所以这是被操纵的
And there goes a bluebird! 还有一只蓝知更鸟！
Sorry. 很抱歉
Anybody who says they're not good flyers 有人说他们不是好传单吗
has never watched exactly what happened there, 从来没看过那里发生的事情
where he flew right to it. 他飞到那里
That was what we call extremely persuasive calling,where it's . 这就是我们所说的极具说服力的电话 在那里
ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-daaaaaaah - 哈哈哈哈哈哈-
little stutters in the beginning and a little bit of abdomen waggle - 开始时有点口吃 腹部有点摇晃-
I hear you got that on there - 我听说你把它放在那里了-
where he's just,you know,doing that. 他只是 你知道 那样做
Yeah,I film a lot of insects,but to get them to do something 是的 我拍了很多昆虫 但是为了让它们做点什么
on cue,just like that,is pretty special. 在暗示下 就像那样 是非常特别的
The crew wait until nightfall, 船员们一直等到天黑
and John takes them to the exact place where he predicts 约翰把他们带到他预测的地方
the cicadas will emerge. 蝉会出现
We got a call saying this is a really good nymph area 我们接到电话说这是一个非常好的仙女区
and they are literally crawling everywhere. 它们真的到处爬行
It's like the ground is kind of boiling up. 好像地面在沸腾
You can hear them crackling. 你可以听到它们噼啪作响
It sounds like fire,or sort of leaves rustling. 听起来像是火 或是树叶沙沙作响
They're just everywhere and they've been climbing us - 他们到处都是 他们一直在攀爬我们-
we've had to tuck our shirts in cos they're climbing up our shirts! 我们不得不把衬衫塞进被子里 因为它们在往上爬！
But,yeah,it's really cool. 但是 是的 真的很酷
I did not expect to see them in these crazy numbers. 我没想到他们会有这么多疯狂的人
There are so many cicadas coming out. 有那么多蝉出来了
Oh,yeah,there's a lot going up me. 哦 是的 我身上有很多东西
Cicada nymphs everywhere. 到处都是蝉若虫
One got all the way up my pant leg,even up my shorts. 其中一个一直爬到我的裤腿上 甚至爬到我的短裤上
There just must be just tens of thousands, 肯定只有数万人
if not hundreds of thousands of cicadas here. 如果不是数十万只蝉的话
But as the crew crack on with their filming, 但随着剧组继续拍摄
John begins to notice some unsettling details. 约翰开始注意到一些令人不安的细节
Oh,look at the bubbles of lymph that are forming now 哦 看看正在形成的淋巴泡
where you just got walked all over. 你刚刚被人到处走了
And this thing is just hanging by a foot 这东西就这么悬着
at the very delicate part of moulting. 在蜕皮的非常微妙的部分
Ohhh! Ohh! Ohh! 哦！哦！哦！
It's just .It's losing .a quarter of its body fluid. 只是 它正在失去 四分之一的体液
This is really pretty extreme,what's going on here. 这真的很极端 这里发生了什么
But,you know,it's . 但是 你知道 这是
It isn't set up or anything - this is just what's happening 它没有设置或任何东西-这就是正在发生的事情
and they're all going up this one tree. 他们都爬上了这棵树
There's nowhere else to go where we are - 我们现在没地方可去了-
we're standing on a parking lot 我们站在一个停车场上
and the rest of it's sort of a backyard. 剩下的部分有点像后院
So this is .This is kind of one of the ways that humans 所以这是 这是人类生存的方式之一
modify the landscape,that . 修改风景 那
may not work out so well for the cicadas. 对蝉来说可能不太好
This is not natural cicada habitat . 这不是蝉的自然栖息地
To the best of what we know, 据我们所知
these are species that like edges - forest edges - 这些物种喜欢边缘——森林边缘-
but this is a little bit different. 但这有点不同
Kirk's house,in this setting right here, 柯克的房子就在这里
and a lot of the places we've seen are lawns with trees coming up. 我们看到的很多地方都是长满树木的草坪
And these trees are very good places for the cicadas to lay eggs, 这些树是蝉产卵的好地方
they do quite well - a lot of eggs go in the ground here, 它们做得很好-这里有很多鸡蛋在地里
a lot of them survive - 他们中的很多人活了下来-
but when they come out,they only have one place to go - 但是当他们出来的时候 他们只有一个地方可以去-
it's back to that tree. 回到那棵树上
And so these isolated trees concentrate the cicadas in a way 所以这些孤立的树在某种程度上集中了蝉
that a natural forest edge doesn't. 自然森林的边缘没有
The cicadas' 17-year cycle evolved during a time 蝉的17年周期在一段时间内进化
when their surrounding habitat was predictably constant. 当它们周围的栖息地可以预测是恒定的
But this is no longer the case in our modern world. 但在我们的现代世界 情况已不再如此
As trees disappear from their habitat, 随着树木从栖息地消失
so do John's opportunities to understand their behaviours. 约翰也有机会了解他们的行为
His lifetime of work does help the crew piece together 他一生的工作确实有助于全体船员团结一致
the cicadas' strategy as they create the next generation. 蝉创造下一代时的策略
Yeah.Oh,let these guys go up. 是 啊哦 让这些人上去
We got more.It's going to be good. 我们还有更多 会很好的
This is it,kids. 就这样 孩子们
It does not get any better than that. 没有比这更好的了
However,John's work is far from done. 然而 约翰的工作远未完成
He has already uncovered many mysteries 他已经揭开了许多谜团
surrounding these amazing creatures. 围绕着这些神奇的生物
But with only one chance every 17 years, 但是每17年只有一次机会
he will soon run out of time. 他很快就没时间了
What's the biggest mystery left with periodical cicadas? 周期性蝉留下的最大谜团是什么？
Why? 为什么？
Biggest mystery in my book is . 我书中最大的谜团是
given that there are 5,000-6,000 species of cicadas on the planet, 考虑到地球上有5000-6000种蝉
fewer than ten doing this - what were the special circumstances 不到十个这样做-有什么特殊情况
that caused these to have this kind of life history? 是什么让他们有了这样的生活史？
And I think,ultimately,that's going to be the question 我认为 最终 这将是一个问题
that I will not be able to answer in my remaining life. 在我的余生中我将无法回答
So .Go to it,future generations! 所以去吧 子孙后代！