Why are there so many insects? - Murry Gans

翻译人员: Candice Tang 校对人员: Gabriella Hu

If insects suddenly morphed into large beings,

如果有一天，所有的昆虫突然都变大了

and decided to wage war on us,

并且要和我们开战

there's no doubt that humans would lose.

那我们人类必输无疑

We'd simply be crushed by their sheer numbers.

我们会轻易地败给它们庞大的数量

There are an estimated 10 quintillion individual insects on Earth.

据估计，地球上有一千亿亿个昆虫个体

That's a one followed by 19 zeroes.

就是1后面有19个零

So, compared with our population of about 7 billion,

人类人口是70亿

these invertebrates outnumber us by more than a billion to one.

这些无脊椎动物的数量与我们相比是十亿比一

Their astounding numbers exist at the species level, as well.

它们惊世骇俗的数量也在物种层面有所体现

There are more than 60,000 vertebrate species on the planet.

地球上有超过六万种脊椎动物

But the class of insects contains a million known species,

但是昆虫纲包括了一百万种已知的物种

and many others that haven't been classified.

以及许多还未被分类的物种

In fact, these critters make up approximately 75% of all animals on Earth.

事实上，这些生物大约占据了 地球上75%的动物数量

So, what's their secret to success?

那么，它们如此大量的秘诀是什么？

Insect abundance comes down to many things

昆虫的巨大数量归因于许多方面

that together make them some of the most adaptable and resilient creatures,

这些因素使得昆虫成为适应性最强、 最有弹性的生物

beginning with their impressive ability to breed.

第一条就是它们极强的繁育能力

Many species can produce hundreds of offspring within their lifetimes.

许多种类的昆虫在一生中可以繁育出上百个后代

Most offspring will die,

大多数幼虫会死亡

but more than enough will survive into adulthood to reproduce.

但存活下来并长成成虫继续繁育的幼虫数量 足以保证这个物种繁衍生息

Offspring also mature very rapidly,

幼虫的生长速度也非常快

so the cycle of reproduction resumes quickly,

所以一个繁衍周期的轮回很快

and can occur over and over again in a short time.

在短时间内可以一遍又一遍地循环

These numbers mean that as a class,

这些数字说明了昆虫纲

insects harbor a tremendous amount of genetic diversity.

拥有非常丰富的遗传多样性

The different species contain a wealth of genetic data

不同的物种有着大量的基因组

that give them the necessary adaptations they need to thrive

使得它们能获得在世界各种生存环境中

in a range of environments across the planet.

得以繁衍生息所需的适应能力

Even some of the most extreme environments are in bounds;

即使是一些最恶劣的环境 也在它们的承受范围之内

Flat bark beetles can live at -40 degrees Fahrenheit,

扁甲虫可以在-40°F（-40°C）的 环境中生存

Sahara Desert ants can venture out

撒哈拉沙漠蚁在地表温度超过155°F（68°C）时

when surface temperatures exceed 155 degrees,

还能活动自如

and some bumblebees can survive 18,000 feet above sea level.

一些黄蜂甚至可以在18000英尺（5486米）的 地区生存

Insect exoskeletons also work like body armor,

昆虫的外骨骼就像保护身体的盔甲一样

protecting insects against the outside world

抵御外部环境的伤害

and helping them cope with habitats that other creatures can't.

帮助它们应对其他生物不能生存的栖息地

Even their small size,

即使它们体型很小

which we might see as a disadvantage,

我们也许把这个看做一项劣势，

is something they use to their benefit.

有时候它们也利用这点成为一项优势

Because most species are so tiny,

由于大部分种类的昆虫都非常小

millions of insects can inhabit a small space

数百万的昆虫可以栖息在一个很小的地方

and make use of all the available resources within it.

并且这地方所有的资源都可以为它们所用

This means they can occupy hundreds of different niches across ecosystems.

这意味着它们可以在整个生态系统中占据 成百上千的小生境

Some insects survive by eating the roots,

一些昆虫靠吃某种植物的根生存

stems,

一些吃茎

leaves,

或是叶子

seeds,

种子

pollen,

花粉

and nectar of specific plants.

以及花蜜

Others, like wasps,

另一些昆虫，比如胡蜂

make use of live insects by paralyzing the victims

会利用其它昆虫

and laying their eggs inside

麻痹受害者，把卵产在它的体内

so that when the hatchlings emerge,

当卵孵化成功以后

they can eat their way out and get nourishment.

幼虫就可以通过啃食尸体获得养分

Mosquitos and biting flies feed on blood,

蚊子和蛰蝇以血为食

taking advantage of this unusual resource to ensure their survival.

依靠这种特别的食物得以生存

And a whole bunch of other insects have built a niche around feces.

还有很多其它昆虫以粪便为存活的依靠

Flies lay their eggs there,

苍蝇在其中产卵

and some beetles even build large balls out of animal dung,

有些甲虫甚至会把动物的粪便滚成球

which they eat and use as accommodation for their eggs.

作为食物以及卵的孵化场

And then there's the insects' mighty power of metamorphosis.

下面要说的是昆虫强大的变态能力

This trait not only transforms insects,

这一特征不仅让昆虫变形、进化

but also helps them maximize the available resources in an ecosystem.

更可以让它们最大限度地利用生态系统中的 可用资源

Take butterflies.

以蝴蝶为例

In their larval caterpillar form,

在处于毛毛虫的幼虫阶段

they chomp hungrily through leaves at a rapid rate

它们会不停地、快速地啃食树叶

to help them grow and spin cocoons.

来帮助它们生长并结茧

But when they emerge as butterflies,

但当它们变成蝴蝶后

these insects feed only on flower nectar.

它们只吃花粉了

Metamorphosis means the larvae and adults of one species

生物变态意味着同一个物种的幼虫期和成虫期

will never compete for the same resource,

绝对不会抢夺相同的食物

so they successfully share an ecological niche

它们可以完美地共享同一个生态环境

without limiting their own success.

又不会限制自己的生长

This process is so efficient

这一过程是非常高效的

that an incredible 86% of insect species undergo complete metamorphosis.

所以有86%的昆虫物种会经历完全变态

We're big and they're small,

人类比较大，而昆虫非常小

so it's easy to forget that these critters are moving in their millions

有时候我们很容易忘记这些生物

all around us,

一直在我们的周围活动

all the time.

几百万几百万为一群

But examine almost any patch of ground,

但如果你随便翻看一小块土地

and you're sure to find them there.

都能看到它们的身影

Their numbers are immense, and their success is unmatched.

它们的数量是巨大的， 它们的成功是无可比拟的

We may have to accept that it's insects,

我们必须接受这样的事实

not us,

昆虫才是这个星球真正的主宰者

that are the true conquerors of the planet.

而不是人类