Why are there so many insects? - Murry Gans

譯者: Wei Chang 審譯者: Max Chern

If insects suddenly morphed into large beings,

如果某日，所有的昆蟲都突然變大

and decided to wage war on us,

而且決定要與我們開戰

there's no doubt that humans would lose.

人類毫無疑問會敗北

We'd simply be crushed by their sheer numbers.

我們會被牠們龐大的軍隊擊潰

There are an estimated 10 quintillion individual insects on Earth.

據統計， 世界上約有一千京隻昆蟲個體

That's a one followed by 19 zeroes.

那代表 1 後面有 19 個零

So, compared with our population of about 7 billion,

所以，與我們約七十億的人口相比

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

這些無脊椎動物的數量勝過我們

比例大於十億比一

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

這些令人震驚的數據 亦可見於種群層面

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

地球上有超過 60,000 種無脊椎動物

But the class of insects contains a million known species,

然而昆蟲綱涵蓋了一百萬種已知物種

and many others that haven't been classified.

還有許多物種尚未分類

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

事實上，這些生物占了地球上 約 75% 的動物數量

So, what's their secret to success?

那麼，昆蟲成功的秘訣是什麼？

Insect abundance comes down to many things

昆蟲的物種豐富度可歸因於許多方面

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

共同使昆蟲成為 最具適應能力、最能抗壓的生物

beginning with their impressive ability to breed.

首先是牠們優秀的繁殖能力

Many species can produce hundreds of offspring within their lifetimes.

許多物種一生中可以生產數百隻後代

Most offspring will die,

這些幼蟲大多數會死去

but more than enough will survive into adulthood to reproduce.

但存活下來的已足以長為成蟲 繁衍下一代

Offspring also mature very rapidly,

幼蟲成熟速度非常快速

so the cycle of reproduction resumes quickly,

因此繁殖週期能很快地再啟

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

在短時間內一次又一次地循環

These numbers mean that as a class,

這些數量表示，在昆蟲綱這分類下 蘊含了龐大的基因多樣性

insects harbor a tremendous amount of genetic diversity.

The different species contain a wealth of genetic data

不同的種群中有著充裕的基因碼

that give them the necessary adaptations they need to thrive

提供牠們蓬勃繁殖所需的變異空間

in a range of environments across the planet.

以適應這星球上各式各樣的環境

Even some of the most extreme environments are in bounds;

即使在某些極端的環境下， 也有昆蟲生存

Flat bark beetles can live at -40 degrees Fahrenheit,

扁甲蟲可以生活在 -40℉ 的環境中

Sahara Desert ants can venture out

箭蟻可以在地面溫度 高達 155 度時外出

when surface temperatures exceed 155 degrees,

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

有些黃蜂則可以在 高於海平面 18,000 呎的地方存活

Insect exoskeletons also work like body armor,

昆蟲的外骨骼就像牠們身上的盔甲

protecting insects against the outside world

保護昆蟲不受外在環境影響

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

並幫助他們適應 其他物種無法生存的棲息地

Even their small size,

牠們的體積很小

which we might see as a disadvantage,

我們可能會將這點視為弱點

is something they use to their benefit.

但牠們能將這點轉為優勢

Because most species are so tiny,

由於大部分的物種體型如此迷你

millions of insects can inhabit a small space

數百萬隻昆蟲可全擠在一個小空間裡

and make use of all the available resources within it.

並將其中的資源利用得淋漓盡致

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

這表示牠們可以占據 整個生態環境中上百個不同的居住地

Some insects survive by eating the roots,

有些昆蟲以特定植物的根

stems,

莖

leaves,

葉

seeds,

種子

pollen,

花粉

and nectar of specific plants.

或花蜜維生

Others, like wasps,

其他物種，例如黃蜂

make use of live insects by paralyzing the victims

會利用其他仍活著的昆蟲， 牠們會麻痺獵物

and laying their eggs inside

並把卵產在裡面

so that when the hatchlings emerge,

如此一來，當幼蟲出生

they can eat their way out and get nourishment.

就能一路吃出來、獲取養份

Mosquitos and biting flies feed on blood,

蚊子和螫蠅飲血維生

taking advantage of this unusual resource to ensure their survival.

以這不常見的食物來源確保生存優勢

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

還有一大群昆蟲會圍著糞便聚集

Flies lay their eggs there,

蒼蠅在那裡產卵

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

某些甲蟲會把動物糞便做成一顆大球

which they eat and use as accommodation for their eggs.

用來當作食物和產卵的地方

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

再來聊聊昆蟲強大的變態能力

This trait not only transforms insects,

這個過程不只讓昆蟲轉變成不同樣貌

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

且能幫助牠們 更加善用生態系中的資源

Take butterflies.

以蝴蝶為例

In their larval caterpillar form,

當牠們還是毛毛蟲時

they chomp hungrily through leaves at a rapid rate

牠們用很快的速度饑渴地嚼食葉子

to help them grow and spin cocoons.

好讓自己成長、作繭

But when they emerge as butterflies,

但當牠們脫繭成為蝴蝶

these insects feed only on flower nectar.

這些昆蟲便只需吸食花蜜維生

Metamorphosis means the larvae and adults of one species

變態讓同個物種的幼蟲和成蟲

will never compete for the same resource,

無需為了相同的食物來源競爭

so they successfully share an ecological niche

因此牠們能成功地 共處在一個生存空間中

without limiting their own success.

不會有所限制

This process is so efficient

這個過程非常有效

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

以致於 86% 的昆蟲種類 都會經歷完全變態

We're big and they're small,

我們很大、牠們很小

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

所以我們很容易忘記， 我們身邊存在著幾百萬隻生物

all around us,

隨時隨地

all the time.

每分每秒

But examine almost any patch of ground,

無論檢查哪一吋土地

and you're sure to find them there.

都一定會發現牠們

Their numbers are immense, and their success is unmatched.

牠們的數量無以數計 牠們的成功獨一無二

We may have to accept that it's insects,

我們必須承認，這些昆蟲

not us,

而非我們人類

that are the true conquerors of the planet.

才是這個星球上真正的征服者

翻譯：Wei Chang