Sara Lewis: The loves and lies of fireflies

翻译人员: Wendy Wu 校对人员: Yuanqing Edberg

As a scientist, and also as a human being,

作为一名科学家，也作为人类的一员，

I've been trying to make myself

我喜欢让自己

susceptible to wonder.

被神奇的事物感动。

I think Jason Webley last night called it

我记得昨晚 Jason Webley 说这种人是

"conspiring to be part of the magic."

“融入成为奇迹的一部分”。

So it's fortunate that my career as a biologist

很幸运，作为一个生物学家，

lets me dive deeply into the lives

我可以深深进入那些

of some truly wondrous creatures

非常奇妙的生物的生活中，

that share our planet:

它们和我们共享同一个星球：

fireflies.

萤火虫。

Now, for many of you, I know that fireflies

我知道，对大部分人来说，萤火虫

might conjure up some really great memories:

总会召唤出美好的回忆：

childhood, summertime,

童年，夏天，

even other TED Talks.

甚至其他的TED演讲，

Maybe something like this.

和其它的这样的事情。

My seduction into the world of fireflies

我被萤火虫的世界所吸引，

began when I was back in graduate school.

最初是在重回学校读研究生课程时。

One evening, I was sitting out in my backyard

一天晚上，我坐在外面的院子里，

in North Carolina,

当时我在北卡罗来纳州，

and suddenly, these silent sparks

突然间，这些悄无声息的星星

rose up all around me,

就在我身边升起了！

and I began to wonder:

我当时开始想：

How do these creatures make light,

这些小家伙是怎么制造光的呢？

and what's with all this flashing?

这样一闪一闪的又是怎么回事呢？

Are they talking to one another?

是它们在对话吗？

And what happens after the lights go out?

这些亮光熄灭以后会发生什么呢？

I've been lucky enough to answer

我很幸运，这些年在夜的王国中探访，

some of these questions

让我已经可以回答

as I've explored this nocturnal world.

其中的一些问题了。

Now if you've ever seen

如果你见过萤火虫，

or even heard about fireflies,

或者听说过萤火虫的故事，

then you'll know how magically they can transform

那你将了解它们是如何能够魔术般地

our everyday landscape into something

把它们日常的景象转化得

ethereal and otherworldly,

如空灵和仙境般的美丽，

and this happens around the globe,

而这就发生在我们的星球上。

like this hillside in the Smoky Mountains

比如在烟山的山坡上，

that I saw transformed into a living cascade of light

我看到这些蓝色的精灵般的萤火虫用它们奇异的光，

by the eerie glows of these blue ghost fireflies,

造出了一个流动的光的瀑布；

or a roadside river that I visited in Japan

还有我在日本一条路边的小河，

as it was giving birth to the slow, floating flashes

看到这些源氏萤火虫舞出一道道

of these Genji fireflies,

缓慢流动的光带。

or in Malaysia, the mangrove trees

或者是在马来西亚的红树林，

that I watched blossom nightly

我看到夜的绽放，

not with flowers

不是花朵，

but with the lights of a thousand — (Bleep! Bleep!) — fireflies,

而是一千只——（哔！哔！）——萤火虫的光芒，

all blinking together

它们一起闪烁着，

in stunning synchrony.

让人难以置信的同步。

These luminous landscapes

这些闪光的景象，

still fill me with wonder,

我至今回想还是觉得无比奇妙，

and they keep me connected to the magic

它们让我感受到

of the natural world.

自然界的奇迹。

And I find it amazing that they're created

让我惊奇的是，这样的景象

by these tiny insects.

是由这些小昆虫创造的。

In person, fireflies are charming.

对我来说，萤火虫是迷人的。

They're charismatic.

它们充满魅力。

They've been celebrated in art

几个世纪以来，不断在艺术和诗歌

and in poetry for centuries.

里受到赞颂。

As I've traveled around the world,

我在世界各地旅行的时候，

I've met many thoughtful people

遇见许多有思想的人，

who have told me that God put fireflies on Earth

他们都觉得，上帝让萤火虫来到世界，

for humans to enjoy.

是为了让人类欣赏，

Other creatures can enjoy them too.

也让其它的生物欣赏。

I think these graceful insects are truly miraculous

我真觉得这些优雅的昆虫是个奇迹，

because they so beautifully illuminate

它们如此优美地诠释了

the creative improvisation of evolution.

进化中那创造性的即兴创作。

They've been shaped by two powerful

它们是受两种强大的进化力量

evolutionary forces:

影响形成的：

natural selection, the struggle for survival,

自然的选择是为了生存而奋斗；

and sexual selection,

而性的选择，

the struggle for reproductive opportunity.

是为了争取繁衍的机会而努力；

As a firefly junkie, the past 20 years

作为一个萤火虫迷，过去的二十年

have been quite an exciting ride.

是我非常兴奋的一场旅程。

Together with my students at Tufts University

我和在塔夫茨大学的学生们

and other colleagues,

还有同事一起，

we've made lots of new discoveries about fireflies:

发现了关于萤火虫的许多新鲜事：

their courtship and sex lives,

它们的求爱和性生活，

their treachery and murder.

它们的背叛和谋杀。

So today I'd like to share with you

所以今天我想和你们分享

just a couple of tales that we've brought back

几个故事，这是从我们深入到这个

from our collective adventures

这个隐秘的世界后一系列的探险

into this hidden world.

后带回来的。

Fireflies belong to a very beautiful

萤火虫属于一种非常美丽，

and diverse group of insects, the beetles.

而且分支众多的昆虫，甲虫。

Worldwide, there are more than 2,000 firefly species,

全世界有超过2000种萤火虫的种类，

and these have evolved remarkably diverse

而它们都衍生了有着明显不同的

courtship signals,

求爱信号，

that is, different ways to find and attract mates.

也就是，找寻和吸引伴侣的不同方式。

Around 150 million years ago,

大约1.5亿年前，

the very first fireflies probably looked like this.

第一只萤火虫可能长得像这个样子。

They flew during the daytime

它们在白天飞，

and they didn't light up.

而且不发光。

Instead, males used their fantastic antennae

取而代之的是，雄性用它们灵敏的触须

to sniff out perfumes given off by their females.

来嗅闻雌性散发的香味。

In other fireflies, it's only the females who light up.

其它的萤火虫族群中，只有雌性萤火虫会发光。

They are attractively plump and wingless,

它们有迷人的丰满身体，没有翅膀，

so every night, they climb up onto perches

所以每天晚上，它们爬上岸边，

and they glow brightly for hours

持续几个小时地发出明亮的光芒，

to attract their flying but unlit males.

吸引正飞舞着的，但不会发光的雄性。

In still other fireflies, both sexes

还有的萤火虫族群，雄性和雌性

use quick, bright flashes to find their mates.

都会用快速闪动的亮光来寻找它们的配偶。

Here in North America,

就在北美洲这里，

we have more than 100 different kinds of firefly

我们有超过100种不同种类的萤火虫，

that have the remarkable ability to shine energy

它们都有非凡的能力，

out from their bodies

将身体里的能量

in the form of light.

投射成外在的光芒。

How do they do that?

它们是怎么做到的呢？

It seems totally magical,

这看起来完全是个奇迹，

but these bioluminescent signals

但这些生物性的发光信号

arise from carefully orchestrated chemical reactions

是经过多种化学反应的细致协调，

that happen inside the firefly lantern.

才形成在萤火虫的灯笼中的。

The main star is an enzyme called luciferase,

主要的亮光来自一种荧光素酶，

which in the course of evolution

萤火虫在漫长的时间中进化出一种方法，

has figured out a way to wrap its tiny arms

用一种叫荧光素的更小的分子，

around an even smaller molecule called luciferin,

包裹住自己的小脚，

in the process getting it so excited

这个过程中是那么剧烈，

that it actually gives off light.

以致于有了光的发散。

Incredible.

不可思议。

But how could these bright lights

但是这些亮光是如何让

have benefited some proto-firefly?

一些特别的萤火虫受益的呢？

To answer this question, we need to flip back

要回答这个问题，我们需要先回顾

in the family album to some baby pictures.

萤火虫的族谱，我们来看几张小萤火虫的照片。

Fireflies completely reinvent their bodies as they grow.

在生长过程中，萤火虫完全变异了它们的身体，

They spend the vast majority of their lifetime,

它们生命中绝大部分的时间，

up to two years,

大约两年，

in this larval form.

是在幼虫期。

Their main goal here, like my teenagers,

这时候它们主要的目标，就像我的青少年时期，

is to eat and grow.

是吃和长大。

And firefly light first originated

萤火虫第一次发光

in these juveniles.

是在它们的青少年期。

Every single firefly larva can light up,

每一只萤火虫幼虫都可以发光，

even when their adults can't.

即便它们长大以后不能发光。

But what's the point

但是为什么

to being so conspicuous?

它们要如此显眼？

Well, we know that these juveniles

嗯，我们知道这些孩子

make nasty-tasting chemicals

会制造气味难闻的化学品，

that help them survive their extended childhood,

以此保护自己安全度过漫长的童年。

so we think these lights first evolved as a warning,

所以我们认为，最开始进化出这些亮光是作为一种警告，

a neon sign that says, "Toxic! Stay away!"

这就像一个霓虹灯，喊着：“有毒！走开！”，

to any would-be predators.

吓唬任何可能的捕食者。

It took many millions of years

这之后又经过了好几百万年的时间，

before these bright lights

这些亮光才进化成为

evolved into a smart communication tool

一种聪明的沟通工具，

that could be used not just to ward off potential predators

不止是用来躲避可能的捕食者，

but to bring in potential mates.

也用来吸引可能的伴侣。

Driven now by sexual selection,

现在来谈谈关于性的选择，

some adult fireflies

一些成年萤火虫，

like this proud male

像这只骄傲的雄虫，

evolved a shiny new glow-in-the-dark lantern

刚演化出一个在黑暗中闪亮的灯笼，

that would let them take courtship

这个灯笼会让它的求爱

to a whole new level.

达到一个全新的水平。

These adults only live a few weeks,

这些成虫只有几个星期的寿命，

and now they're single-mindedly focused on sex,

这时候它们一心只想着交配，

that is, on propelling their genes

让自己的基因繁衍出

into the next firefly generation.

下一代的萤火虫。

So we can follow this male out into the field

我们可以跟着这只雄虫到野外去，

as he joins hundreds of other males

它加入了数百只其他雄虫中，

who are all showing off their new courtship signals.

它们都在炫耀着它们新的求爱信号。

It's amazing to think that the luminous displays

想想看，让我们赞叹的

we admire

这些光亮，

here and in fact everywhere around the world

不止在这里，实际上在世界的每一个角落都闪烁着，

are actually the silent love songs

它们正是雄性萤火虫静默无声的情歌，

of male fireflies.

多么神奇！

They're flying and flashing their hearts out.

它们飞舞着，闪耀着它们的真心，

I still find it very romantic.

我一直觉得，这太浪漫了。

But meanwhile, where are all the females?

但同时，雌性萤火虫在哪里呢？

Well, they're lounging down below

它们懒洋洋地待在低处，

surveying their options.

审视着这些待选项。

They have plenty of males to choose from,

有充足的雄性萤火虫可供它们选择，

and these females turn out to be very picky.

而这些雌萤火虫还真是非常挑剔的。

When a female sees a flash

当一只雌萤火虫看到一只特别吸引人的雄性

from an especially attractive male,

发出的闪光时，

she'll aim her lantern in his direction,

她会把她的灯笼朝向雄萤火虫，

and give him a flash back.

也给他一个闪光回应，

It's her "come hither" sign.

这是她在说”到这儿来“。

So he flies closer and he flashes again.

雄萤火虫就飞近她，再次闪光，

If she still likes him,

如果雌萤火虫仍然喜欢他，

they'll strike up a conversation.

他们就开始聊起天来。

These creatures speak their love

这种生物用光的语言

in the language of light.

诉说他们的爱。

So what exactly do these females consider sexy?

那么，到底这些雌萤火虫觉得什么是性感呢？

We decided to conduct some firefly opinion polls

我们决定在一些萤火虫中做民意调查

to find out.

来找到答案。

When we tested females using blinking LED lights,

当我们用闪光的LED灯测试雌萤火虫时，

we discovered they prefer males

我们发现它们更喜欢

who give longer-lasting flashes.

可以持久发光的雄性。

(Laughter) (Applause)

（大笑 ）（鼓掌）

I know you're wondering,

我猜你们想知道，

what gives these males their sex appeal?

是什么给了这些雄萤火虫性的吸引力？

Now we get to see what happens

那我们就要来看看

when the lights go out.

当这些亮光熄灭时发生了什么？

The first thing we discovered

我们发现的第一件事，

is that once a male and female hook up like this,

是一旦一只雄萤火虫和一只雌萤火虫像这样勾在一起时，

they stay together all night long,

它们就会一整晚呆在一起。

and when we looked inside

我们再朝里面看看，

to see what might be happening,

看看正在发生什么，

we discovered a surprising new twist

我们惊人地发现一个

to firefly sex.

对萤火虫性行为的误解。

While they're mating,

当它们交配时，

the male is busy giving the female

雄萤火虫不止忙着

not just his sperm

向雌萤火虫射精，

but also a nutrient-filled package

还给她一个富含营养的袋子，

called a nuptial gift.

叫做新婚礼物。

We can zoom in to look more closely

我们可以放大，更近地看看

inside this mating pair.

在交配的萤火虫体内。

We can actually see the gift —

我们可以看到这个礼物——

it's shown here in red —

在这里它看起来是红色的——

as it's being passed from the male to the female.

它正从雄萤火虫传向雌萤火虫。

What makes this gift so valuable

这个礼物如此珍贵，

is that it's packed with protein

是因为它含有蛋白质，

that the female will use to provision her eggs.

这是雌萤火虫产卵所必需的营养。

So females are keeping their eyes on this prize

所以雌萤火虫在评估它们潜在的伴侣时，

as they size up potential mates.

都睁大眼睛关注这个礼物。

We discovered that females use male flash signals

我们发现雌萤火虫努力通过雄性的闪光信号

to try to predict which males

来预测哪些雄性

have the biggest gifts to offer,

可以提供最丰厚的礼物。

because this bling helps the female lay more eggs

因为这个宝贝可以帮助雌萤火虫产下更多的卵，

and ultimately launch more of her own offspring

也最终决定了在新一代萤火虫中，

into the next generation.

可以有更多是她自己的后代。

So it's not all sweetness and light.

不全是甜蜜和光，

Firefly romance is risky.

萤火虫的罗曼史也饱含危险。

For the most part, these adult fireflies

大部分情况下，成年萤火虫不会被吃掉，

don't get eaten because like their juveniles

因为像它们小时候一样，

they can manufacture toxins that are repellent

它们可以制造毒素，

to birds and other insectivores,

让鸟儿和其他食虫动物躲开它们。

but somewhere along the line,

但在历史中的某一处，

one particular group of fireflies

萤火虫中的某一族，

somehow lost the metabolic machinery

莫名其妙地就失去了这种代谢机制，

needed to make their own protective toxins.

但它们又必须制造自己的防卫毒素。

This evolutionary flaw,

这个进化中的小错误，

which was discovered by my colleague Tom Eisner,

是由我的同事Tom Eisner发现的，

has driven these fireflies

它促使这些萤火虫

to take their bright lights out into the night

不怀好意地

with treacherous intent.

在黑夜中点亮自己。

Dubbed "femme fatales"

这是被我另一个同事Jim Lloyd

by Jim Lloyd, another colleague,

称为“女性杀手”的雌性萤火虫，

these females have figured out how to target

它们有一套方法来吸引

the males of other firefly species.

其他种族的雄萤火虫。

So the hunt begins with the predator —

这场狩猎是从捕食者开始的——

she's shown here in the lower left —

看左下方这里，

where she's sitting quietly

她正安静地坐着，

and eavesdropping on the courtship conversation

在偷听她想要捕食的萤火虫

of her intended prey,

的求爱对话，

and here's how it might go.

接下来看会发生什么。

First the prey male flashes, "Do you love me?"

首先，那个将被捕食的雄萤火虫说：“你爱我吗？”

His own female responds, "Maybe."

他自己的雌萤火虫回答说，“可能吧 。”

So then he flashes again.

所以接下来他又闪烁起来。

But this time, the predator sneaks in a reply

但这次，是那个捕猎的小偷在回答，

that cleverly mimics exactly what the other female just said.

她很聪明，逼真地模仿其他雌萤火虫刚说过的话。

She's not looking for love: she's looking for toxins.

她不是在寻找爱：她在寻找毒素。

If she's good, she can lure this male close enough

如果她是个中好手，她可以勾引这只雄萤火虫继续靠近，

to reach out and grab him,

直到抓住他，

and he's not just a light snack.

他不止是一餐发光的小点心。

Over the next hour, she slowly

一个小时之后，她慢慢地

exsanguinates this male

把这只雄萤火虫的血抽光，

leaving behind just some gory remains.

只剩下一具血淋淋的躯壳。

Unable to make their own toxins,

因为不能制造自己的毒素，

these females resort to drinking the blood

这些雌萤火虫依靠喝其他萤火虫的血，

of other fireflies to get these protective chemicals.

来得到这些有防卫作用的化学物质。

So a firefly vampire,

所以，一只吸血鬼萤火虫

brought to you by natural selection.

在自然的选择中诞生了。

We still have a lot to learn about fireflies,

还有很多关于萤火虫的故事值得我们去发现，

but it looks like many stories will remain untold,

但可能许多故事会永远保持着缄默，

because around the world, firefly populations

因为萤火虫可能在眨眼间

are blinking out.

就在世上灭绝。

The main culprit: habitat loss.

罪魁祸首是：栖息地的消失。

Pretty much everywhere, the fields and forests,

世界各地的许多旷野和森林，红树林和草地，

the mangroves and meadows that fireflies need to survive,

这些萤火虫生存需要的环境

are giving way to development and to sprawl.

都让路给开发和扩张。

Here's another problem: we've conquered darkness,

还有另一个问题：我们已经征服了黑暗，

but in the process, we spill so much extra light out into the night

但在这个过程中，我们把这么多多余的光投向夜晚，

that it disrupts the lives of other creatures,

这让其他生物的生活陷入混乱，

and fireflies are especially sensitive to light pollution

萤火虫对光污染尤其敏感，

because it obscures the signals

因为这让它们用来寻找配偶的

that they use to find their mates.

信号变得模糊不清。

Do we really need fireflies?

我们真的需要萤火虫吗？

After all, they're just one tiny bit

毕竟，它们只是地球生物多样性中

of Earth's biodiversity.

一个微小的点。

Yet every time a species is lost,

然而每次一种生物灭绝，

it's like extinguishing a room full of candles

就像在一间摆满蜡烛的房间

one by one.

一个接一个地熄灭蜡烛。

You might not notice

你可能不会注意

when the first few flames flicker out,

最初摇曳熄灭的那些火焰，

but in the end, you're left sitting in darkness.

但最后，只剩下你独自坐在黑暗中。

As we work together to craft a planetary future,

在我们一起努力为这个星球创造美好的未来时，

I hope we can find a way

我希望我们可以找到一种方法

to keep these bright lights shining.

让这些明亮的小灯笼继续闪耀。

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（鼓掌）