Phenology and nature's shifting rhythms - Regina Brinker

生物氣候學及自然變化的韻律 - Regina Brinker

Transcriber: Andrea McDonough Reviewer: Bedirhan Cinar

譯者: Jephian Lin 審譯者: Geoff Chen

Take a look outside a window.

看看窗外。

What is the season where you are?

看看現在是哪個季節？

How do you know?

你是怎麼知道的？

Most likely, you looked at a tree or plant

很可能地，你看到了樹或植物

and noticed details about its leaves

並且注意到它葉子上的細節，

and assessed the qualities of sunlight streaming outside.

而評斷外面的陽光的強弱。

Observing the timing of biological events

由觀察一些生物現象的發生時間

in relation to changes in season and climate

和季節、氣候變化之間的關係

is called "phenology".

叫做「生物氣候學」。

When you notice the daffodil buds are poking through the snow

當你注意到黃水仙的的新芽正要破雪而出

and think spring is on its way,

進而想到春天即將來臨，

you're using phenology.

你正運用著生物氣候學。

When you see leaves turn from green to red,

當你看到葉子由綠轉紅，

and watch migrating birds fly past,

並看到成群候鳥飛過，

and realize that summer is over, autumn is here,

進而想到夏天將盡、秋天已到，

you're using phenology.

你正運用著生物氣候學。

Literally meaning, "the science of appearance",

字面上的意思是「景象的科學」，

phenology comes from the Greek words

生物氣候學(phenology)源自希臘話

"pheno," to show or appear,

「pheno」，意思是表現或出現

and "logos," to study.

而「logos」，是研究的意思。

Humans have relied on phenology

早從獵人及採集者的時代

since the time of hunters and gatherers.

人類就已經仰賴生物氣候學。

We've watched changes in seasons

我們藉由看著季節的變化

to know when to plant and harvest food

來了解何時種植及收割作物

and when to track migrating animals.

以及何時可以追蹤候鳥。

Scientists observe and document seasonal changes in nature

科學家觀察並記載自然界的季節變化

and look for patterns in the timing of seasonal events.

且找尋各季節事件發生的規律。

Timing of these natural signs has remained consistent until recently.

這些自然現象的發生時間到現在一直沒有改變。

Increasing global temperature is causing rhythms of nature to shift.

然而全球暖化正造成大自然的韻律改變。

Bud burst, the day when a tree or plant's leaf or flower buds open,

萌芽，也就是樹和植物的葉子、或是新芽長出的那天，

is occurring earlier in the year for some species.

在每年的週期中，對於某些物種正提早到來。

For every one degree Celsius rise in temperature,

溫度每上升攝氏一度，

bud burst happens five days earlier than usual.

植物就比以往更早五天萌芽。

Differences in timing affect not only plants,

這些時間上的差異並不只影響植物而已，

but the insects and birds that depend on the plants for food.

同時也影響那些仰賴植物為食物的昆蟲和鳥類。

For example, oak trees in the Arnhem Forest of the Netherlands

比如說，荷蘭阿納姆森林的橡樹

now experience bud burst ten days earlier,

相較於二十年前，

as compared to twenty years ago.

正經歷著早了十天的萌芽。

New oak leaves are a favorite food of winter moth caterpillars.

橡樹的嫩葉是冬尺蛾幼蟲最愛的食物。

To survive, the caterpillars adapted

為了生存，幼蟲適應了

to the change in the tree's timing,

樹生長的時間變化，

and now hatch 15 days earlier than before.

進而比往提早十五天孵化。

Migrating pied flycatcher birds, however,

然而，隨季節遷徒的班姬鶲

aren't doing as well.

並沒有這麼做。

The birds prefer to feed their chicks winter moth caterpillars.

這些鳥喜歡用冬尺蛾幼蟲來餵食他們的雛鳥。

The caterpillars are now hatching earlier,

現在幼蟲提早孵化，

but the birds' chicks are not.

但雛鳥並沒有。

This delay is costing the birds a food source.

這個差異讓鳥類沒了食物來源，

The pied flycatcher population has decreased

因此，班姬鶲的數量

by up to 90% in some areas as a result.

在某些地方減少了九成以上。

Changes to a seemingly simple event,

讓我們說說另一個類似且簡單的事件，

leaves opening,

葉子成熟，

has ripple effects throughout a food web.

在食物網中有漣漪效應。

Earlier bloom times can also have an economic impact.

提早的花開時間也會有生態上的衝擊。

The famed cherry blossoms in Washington D.C.

華盛頓特區裡著名的櫻花

are blooming five days earlier than before.

比以往早了五天開花。

Since the cherry trees are blooming earlier,

由於櫻花提早開花，

the blossoms also fade earlier,

它們也提早凋謝，

frustrating thousands of tourists who visit

使得數以千計、來參加櫻花節的旅客大失所望。

for the Cherry Blossom Festival.

使得數以千計、來參加櫻花節的旅客大失所望。

High school marching bands plan

高中的遊行樂隊

all year to attend the parade

計劃了一整年來參加遊行

and perform, surrounded by a majestic white canopy.

以及表演，環繞在壯麗的白色樹冠之中。

How disappointing for them to find, well, trees

當他們發現，嗯，只有櫻花樹而不是有名的櫻花時 將會多麼沮喪！

rather than the famous cherry blossoms!

當他們發現，嗯，只有櫻花樹而不是有名的櫻花時 將會多麼沮喪！

Plants and animals react to changes in natural light and temperature.

動植物們的行為隨著大自然中的光線和溫度變化。

Increasing temperatures cause plants to bloom earlier than before,

溫度上升使得植物提早開花，

and become out of sync with the insects and birds in a food web.

因而和食物網中的昆蟲鳥類不同步。

So, the next time you look out your window

所以，當下一次你再看著窗外

and notice what season it is,

而感受到當下的季節，

you may be fooled by those blooming trees.

你也許是被那些開花的樹所混淆了。

Think of phenology,

想想生物氣候學，

then think of how you can play a part to slow climate change.

然後想想對於減緩氣候變遷，你能做些什麼。