研究人員們首次對(duì)世界上真菌的生存狀況開(kāi)展了大規(guī)模的評(píng)估調(diào)查。他們發(fā)現(xiàn),真菌王國(guó)對(duì)于地球萬(wàn)物來(lái)說(shuō)至關(guān)重要,盡管目前世界上約有三百八十萬(wàn)種真菌種類(lèi),但仍有超過(guò) 90% 是科學(xué)未知的。
From foods to medicines, to recycling nutrients – fungi are vital for life on Earth. But with many hidden away in the soil, or invisible to the naked eye, they're often overlooked.
從食物到藥材,到再生營(yíng)養(yǎng)物質(zhì),真菌對(duì)地球上的生命來(lái)說(shuō)至關(guān)重要。但由于很多真菌都被埋在土壤里或用肉眼無(wú)法看到,所以人們經(jīng)常會(huì)忽視它們的重要性。
Scientists have pulled together information on these curious organisms to highlight gaps in our knowledge. DNA studies suggest there may be almost four million different fungi, but science has identified less than ten per cent of them. And only about 50 species have been evaluated for the extinction Red List compared with thousands of plants and animals.
科學(xué)家們收集了有關(guān)這種奇異有機(jī)體的信息,從而引起人們對(duì)這一知識(shí)空白的注意。DNA 研究顯示,世界上可能有近四百萬(wàn)種不同的真菌,但科學(xué)僅能辨別出不到10%。和成千上萬(wàn)的植物和動(dòng)物相比,科學(xué)家們只對(duì)約五十個(gè)真菌物種是否能列入世界自然保護(hù)聯(lián)盟瀕危物種紅色名錄中進(jìn)行了評(píng)估。
Director of Science at Kew, Professor Cathy Willis, says we ignore fungi at our peril. Fungi have potential for breaking down plastics and generating new types of biofuels and medicines. But they have a negative side – destroying crops and wiping out trees such as the ash and the elm.
英國(guó)邱園的科學(xué)總監(jiān)凱西·威利斯說(shuō),忽略真菌的重要性會(huì)給我們帶來(lái)危險(xiǎn)。真菌有分解塑料和創(chuàng)造新生物燃料及藥品種類(lèi)的潛能。但它也有負(fù)面影響,即破壞莊稼、摧毀如白蠟樹(shù)和橡樹(shù)等樹(shù)木。
nutrients 營(yíng)養(yǎng)物質(zhì)
vital 至關(guān)重要的
overlooked 被忽視、被忽略
curious 奇異的,不同尋常的
organisms 有機(jī)體
evaluated 被評(píng)估
Red List 世界自然保護(hù)聯(lián)盟瀕危物種紅色名錄
at our peril 給我們帶來(lái)危險(xiǎn)
breaking down 分解
biofuels 生物燃料
wiping out 摧毀
1. According to the report, why have some types of fungi not been discovered?
2. How many types of fungi might exist in the World?
3. True or false? More species of fungi have been identified as being at risk of extinction than species of plants and animals.
4. According to the report, what are some of the possible benefits of fungi?
1. According to the report, why have some types of fungi not been discovered?
Many types of fungi are hidden away in the soil, or invisible to the naked eye.
2. How many types of fungi might exist in the World?
DNA studies suggest there maybe four million different fungi in the World.
3. True or false? More species of fungi have been identified as being at risk of extinction than species of plants and animals.
False. Only about 50 species have been evaluated for the extinction Red List compared with thousands of plants and animals.
4. According to the report, what are some of the possible benefits of fungi?
Fungi have potential for breaking down plastics and generating new types of biofuels and medicines.