Sara Lewis: The loves and lies of fireflies

譯者: Yi Fei 審譯者: Regina Chu

As a scientist, and also as a human being,

作為一名科學家， 也作為人類的一員，

I've been trying to make myself

我努力嘗試讓自己

susceptible to wonder.

被神奇的事物感動。

I think Jason Webley last night called it

我記得昨晚傑森·偉柏力說這可謂

"conspiring to be part of the magic."

「融入成為奇蹟的一部分」。

So it's fortunate that my career as a biologist

很幸運的，作為一名生物學家，

lets me dive deeply into the lives

我可以深深地研究一些

of some truly wondrous creatures

和我們共享同一個星球

that share our planet:

而非常奇妙的生物：

fireflies.

螢火蟲。

Now, for many of you, I know that fireflies

我知道，對大部分人來說，螢火蟲

might conjure up some really great memories:

總會召喚出美好的回憶：

childhood, summertime,

童年，夏天，

even other TED Talks.

甚至其他的 TED 演講。

Maybe something like this.

例如這樣。

My seduction into the world of fireflies

我對螢火蟲世界的迷戀

began when I was back in graduate school.

要追溯到讀研究所的時候。

One evening, I was sitting out in my backyard

一天晚上，我坐在院子裡，

in North Carolina,

當時我在北卡羅來納州，

and suddenly, these silent sparks

突然間，這些悄無聲息的花火

rose up all around me,

就在我身邊升起了，

and I began to wonder:

我當時開始想：

How do these creatures make light,

這些小傢伙是怎麼製造光的呢？

and what's with all this flashing?

這樣一閃一閃的又是怎麼回事呢？

Are they talking to one another?

是它們在對話嗎？

And what happens after the lights go out?

這些亮光熄滅以後會發生什麼呢？

I've been lucky enough to answer

我很幸運， 這些年在夜的王國中探訪，

some of these questions

讓我已經可以回答

as I've explored this nocturnal world.

其中的一些問題了。

Now if you've ever seen

如果你見過螢火蟲

or even heard about fireflies,

或者只是聽說過螢火蟲的故事

then you'll know how magically they can transform

那你一定了解它們是 如何能夠魔術般地

our everyday landscape into something

把無常的景象轉化得

ethereal and otherworldly,

空靈和如同仙境般的美麗，

and this happens around the globe,

而這發生在世界各處：

like this hillside in the Smoky Mountains

比如在（美國）大煙山的山坡上，

that I saw transformed into a living cascade of light

我看到這些藍色精靈般的 螢火蟲用它們奇異的光

by the eerie glows of these blue ghost fireflies,

造出了一個流動的光的瀑布，

or a roadside river that I visited in Japan

而在日本一條路邊的小河，

as it was giving birth to the slow, floating flashes

我看到這些源氏螢火蟲舞出一道道

of these Genji fireflies,

緩慢流動的光帶，

or in Malaysia, the mangrove trees

或在馬來西亞的紅樹林，

that I watched blossom nightly

每晚所綻放的，

not with flowers

不是花朵，

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

而是一千隻——（嗶！嗶！） ——螢火蟲的光芒，

all blinking together

它們一起閃爍著，

in stunning synchrony.

讓人難以置信的同步。

These luminous landscapes

這些發光的景觀

still fill me with wonder,

還是讓我驚愕，

and they keep me connected to the magic

它們讓我感觸到

of the natural world.

自然界的奇蹟。

And I find it amazing that they're created

而讓我更驚奇的是，這樣的景象

by these tiny insects.

是由如此小的昆蟲創造的。

In person, fireflies are charming.

我本身覺得，螢火蟲是迷人的。

They're charismatic.

它們充滿魅力。

They've been celebrated in art

幾個世紀以來，它們不斷在藝術

and in poetry for centuries.

和詩歌裡受到讚頌。

As I've traveled around the world,

我曾在世界各地旅行，

I've met many thoughtful people

遇過許多有思想的人，

who have told me that God put fireflies on Earth

他們告訴我， 上帝把螢火蟲放在世上，

for humans to enjoy.

是為了讓人類欣賞。

Other creatures can enjoy them too.

別的生物也同樣欣賞它們。

I think these graceful insects are truly miraculous

我覺得這些優雅的昆蟲是個奇蹟，

because they so beautifully illuminate

它們如此優美地詮釋了

the creative improvisation of evolution.

進化中那充滿想像力的即興創作。

They've been shaped by two powerful

它們是受兩種強大的進化力量

evolutionary forces:

影響形成的：

natural selection, the struggle for survival,

天擇是為了生存的奮鬥；

and sexual selection,

而性擇，

the struggle for reproductive opportunity.

是為了爭取繁衍的機會而努力。

As a firefly junkie, the past 20 years

作為一個螢火蟲迷，過去的二十年

have been quite an exciting ride.

是讓我非常興奮的一場旅程。

Together with my students at Tufts University

我和在塔夫茨大學的學生們

and other colleagues,

還有同事一起，

we've made lots of new discoveries about fireflies:

發現了關於螢火蟲的許多新鮮事：

their courtship and sex lives,

它們的求愛和性生活，

their treachery and murder.

它們的背叛和謀殺。

So today I'd like to share with you

所以今天我想和你們分享

just a couple of tales that we've brought back

幾個故事，這是從我們深入到這個

from our collective adventures

這個隱秘的世界後一系列的探險後

into this hidden world.

帶回來的。

Fireflies belong to a very beautiful

螢火蟲屬於一種非常美麗，

and diverse group of insects, the beetles.

而且多樣的昆蟲群，甲蟲。

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

全世界有超過 2000 種 螢火蟲的種類，

and these have evolved remarkably diverse

而它們都衍生了有各式各樣的

courtship signals,

求愛信號，

that is, different ways to find and attract mates.

也就是，找尋和吸引 伴侶的不同方式。

Around 150 million years ago,

大約 1.5 億年前，

the very first fireflies probably looked like this.

最初的螢火蟲可能長得像這個樣子。

They flew during the daytime

它們在白天飛，

and they didn't light up.

而且不發光。

Instead, males used their fantastic antennae

取而代之的是， 雄性用它們靈敏的觸鬚

to sniff out perfumes given off by their females.

來嗅聞雌性散發的香味。

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

其它的螢火蟲族群中， 只有雌性螢火蟲會發光。

They are attractively plump and wingless,

它們有迷人的豐滿身體，沒有翅膀，

so every night, they climb up onto perches

所以每天晚上，它們爬上岸邊，

and they glow brightly for hours

持續幾個小時地發出明亮的光芒，

to attract their flying but unlit males.

吸引正飛舞著的， 但不會發光的雄性。

In still other fireflies, both sexes

還有些螢火蟲種類，雄性和雌性

use quick, bright flashes to find their mates.

都會用快速閃動的亮光 來尋找它們的配偶。

Here in North America,

就在北美洲這裡，

we have more than 100 different kinds of firefly

我們有超過 100 種 不同種類的螢火蟲，

that have the remarkable ability to shine energy

它們都有非凡的能力，

out from their bodies

將身體裡的能量

in the form of light.

轉化成光。

How do they do that?

它們是怎麼做到的呢？

It seems totally magical,

這看起來完全像魔術，

but these bioluminescent signals

但這些動物所發出的光信號

arise from carefully orchestrated chemical reactions

需經過螢火蟲的燈籠中的

that happen inside the firefly lantern.

多種化學反應的精密協調。

The main star is an enzyme called luciferase,

主角是一種螢光素酶，

which in the course of evolution

在漫長的進化中，

has figured out a way to wrap its tiny arms

成功地把它的小染色體臂

around an even smaller molecule called luciferin,

包裹住了一個更小的螢光素分子，

in the process getting it so excited

這個過程中它受到激發，

that it actually gives off light.

以致發出了光。

Incredible.

不可思議。

But how could these bright lights

但是這些亮光是如何讓

have benefited some proto-firefly?

一些原始螢火蟲受益的呢？

To answer this question, we need to flip back

要回答這個問題，我們需要先回顧

in the family album to some baby pictures.

螢火蟲的族譜， 我們來看幾張小螢火蟲的照片。

Fireflies completely reinvent their bodies as they grow.

在生長過程中， 螢火蟲完全變異了它們的身體，

They spend the vast majority of their lifetime,

它們生命中絕大部分的時間，

up to two years,

長至兩年，

in this larval form.

都花在幼蟲期。

Their main goal here, like my teenagers,

這時候它們主要的目標， 就像我青少年的孩子，

is to eat and grow.

是吃和長大。

And firefly light first originated

螢火蟲第一次發光

in these juveniles.

是在它們的青少年期。

Every single firefly larva can light up,

每一隻螢火蟲幼蟲都可以發光，

even when their adults can't.

即便它們長大以後不能發光。

But what's the point

但是為什麼

to being so conspicuous?

它們要如此顯眼？

Well, we know that these juveniles

我們知道這些幼蟲

make nasty-tasting chemicals

會製造難吃的化學物，

that help them survive their extended childhood,

以保護自己安全度過漫長的童年。

so we think these lights first evolved as a warning,

所以我們認為，最開始進化出 這些亮光是作為一種警告，

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

這就像一個霓虹燈， 喊著：「有毒！走開！」

to any would-be predators.

嚇唬任何可能的捕食者。

It took many millions of years

這之後又經過了好幾百萬年的時間，

before these bright lights

這些亮光才進化成為

evolved into a smart communication tool

一種聰明的溝通工具，

that could be used not just to ward off potential predators

不止是用來躲避可能的捕食者，

but to bring in potential mates.

也用來吸引可能的伴侶。

Driven now by sexual selection,

現在來談談關於性擇，

some adult fireflies

一些成年螢火蟲，

like this proud male

就像這只驕傲的雄蟲，

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

演化出一個在黑暗中閃亮的燈籠，

that would let them take courtship

這個燈籠會讓它的求愛

to a whole new level.

達到一個全新的水平。

These adults only live a few weeks,

這些成蟲只有幾個星期的壽命，

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

這時候它們一心只想著交配，

that is, on propelling their genes

讓自己的基因繁衍出

into the next firefly generation.

下一代的螢火蟲。

So we can follow this male out into the field

我們可以跟著這隻雄蟲到野外去，

as he joins hundreds of other males

它置身於數百隻其他雄蟲中，

who are all showing off their new courtship signals.

它們都在炫耀著它們新的求愛信號。

It's amazing to think that the luminous displays

想想看，我們在這裡

we admire

和世界各地讚歎的

here and in fact everywhere around the world

這些光亮，

are actually the silent love songs

它們其實是雄性螢火蟲

of male fireflies.

靜默無聲的情歌。

They're flying and flashing their hearts out.

它們飛舞著，閃耀著它們的真心，

I still find it very romantic.

我至今認為，這太浪漫了。

But meanwhile, where are all the females?

但同時，雌性螢火蟲在哪裡呢？

Well, they're lounging down below

它們懶洋洋地待在低處，

surveying their options.

審視著這些可能性。

They have plenty of males to choose from,

有充足的雄性螢火蟲可供它們選擇，

and these females turn out to be very picky.

而這些雌螢火蟲是非常挑剔的。

When a female sees a flash

當一隻雌螢火蟲看到 一隻特別吸引人的雄性

from an especially attractive male,

發出的閃光時，

she'll aim her lantern in his direction,

她會把她的燈籠朝向雄螢火蟲，

and give him a flash back.

也給他一個閃光回應，

It's her "come hither" sign.

這是她在說「到這兒來」。

So he flies closer and he flashes again.

雄螢火蟲於是飛近她，再次閃光，

If she still likes him,

如果雌螢火蟲仍然喜歡他，

they'll strike up a conversation.

他們就開始聊起天來。

These creatures speak their love

這種生物用光的語言

in the language of light.

訴說他們的愛情。

So what exactly do these females consider sexy?

那麼，到底什麼對這些 雌螢火蟲來說是性感的呢？

We decided to conduct some firefly opinion polls

我們決定在螢火蟲中做些民意調查

to find out.

來尋求答案。

When we tested females using blinking LED lights,

當我們用閃光的 LED 燈 測試雌螢火蟲時，

we discovered they prefer males

我們發現它們更喜歡

who give longer-lasting flashes.

可以持久發光的雄性。

(Laughter) (Applause)

（大笑 ）（鼓掌）

I know you're wondering,

我猜你們想知道，

what gives these males their sex appeal?

是什麼給予雄螢火蟲性吸引力？

Now we get to see what happens

那我們就要來看看

when the lights go out.

燈光熄滅後發生了什麼。

The first thing we discovered

我們發現的第一件事，

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

是一旦雄螢火蟲和雌螢火蟲 纏綿在一起時，

they stay together all night long,

它們就會一整晚呆在一起，

and when we looked inside

我們再朝裡面看看，

to see what might be happening,

看看正在發生什麼，

we discovered a surprising new twist

我們驚人地發現一個

to firefly sex.

螢火蟲性行為的轉折。

While they're mating,

當它們交配時，

the male is busy giving the female

雄螢火蟲不止忙著

not just his sperm

向雌螢火蟲射精，

but also a nutrient-filled package

還給她一個富含營養的袋子，

called a nuptial gift.

叫做新婚彩禮。

We can zoom in to look more closely

我們可以放大，更近地看看

inside this mating pair.

在交配的螢火蟲的體內。

We can actually see the gift —

我們可以看到這個禮物——

it's shown here in red —

在這裡它看起來是紅色的——

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

它正從雄螢火蟲傳向雌螢火蟲。

What makes this gift so valuable

這個禮物如此珍貴，

is that it's packed with protein

是因為它有豐富的蛋白質，

that the female will use to provision her eggs.

這是雌螢火蟲產卵所必需的營養。

So females are keeping their eyes on this prize

所以雌螢火蟲在評估 它們潛在的伴侶時，

as they size up potential mates.

都心繫於這個禮物。

We discovered that females use male flash signals

我們發現雌螢火蟲 努力通過雄性的閃光信號

to try to predict which males

來預測哪些雄性

have the biggest gifts to offer,

可以提供最豐厚的禮物，

because this bling helps the female lay more eggs

因為這個閃光寶貝可以幫助 雌螢火蟲產下更多的卵，

and ultimately launch more of her own offspring

以至於在新一代螢火蟲中，

into the next generation.

可以有更多是她自己的後代。

So it's not all sweetness and light.

所以這不全是甜蜜和柔光，

Firefly romance is risky.

螢火蟲的羅曼史也飽含危險的。

For the most part, these adult fireflies

大部分情況下， 成年螢火蟲不會被吃掉，

don't get eaten because like their juveniles

因為像它們幼蟲時候一樣，

they can manufacture toxins that are repellent

它們可以製造毒素，

to birds and other insectivores,

讓鳥兒和其他食蟲動物躲開它們。

but somewhere along the line,

但在歷史的某一頁，

one particular group of fireflies

螢火蟲中的某一種類，

somehow lost the metabolic machinery

莫名其妙地就失去了這種代謝機制，

needed to make their own protective toxins.

無法製造自己的防衛​​毒素。

This evolutionary flaw,

這個進化中的小瑕疵，

which was discovered by my colleague Tom Eisner,

是由我的同事湯姆·艾斯納發現的，

has driven these fireflies

這促使這些螢火蟲

to take their bright lights out into the night

不懷好意地

with treacherous intent.

在黑夜中點亮自己。

Dubbed "femme fatales"

這是被我另一個同事吉姆·洛伊

by Jim Lloyd, another colleague,

稱為「蛇蠍美人」的雌性螢火蟲，

these females have figured out how to target

它們搞清楚了吸引

the males of other firefly species.

其他類型的雄螢火蟲的套路。

So the hunt begins with the predator —

這場狩獵是從捕食者開始的——

she's shown here in the lower left —

她在左下方這裡，

where she's sitting quietly

正安靜地坐著，

and eavesdropping on the courtship conversation

在偷聽她想要捕食的螢火蟲

of her intended prey,

求愛的對話，

and here's how it might go.

接下來會發生的也許是如此。

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

首先，那個將被捕食的 雄螢火蟲說：「你愛我嗎？」

His own female responds, "Maybe."

他自己的雌螢火蟲回答說， 「可能吧。」

So then he flashes again.

所以接下來他又閃爍起來。

But this time, the predator sneaks in a reply

但這次，是捕獵者狡猾地在回答，

that cleverly mimics exactly what the other female just said.

她很聰明，逼真地模仿 其他雌螢火蟲剛說過的話。

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

她不是在尋找愛：她在尋找毒素。

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

如果她是個中好手， 她可以勾引這隻雄螢火蟲繼續靠近，

to reach out and grab him,

直到抓住他，

and he's not just a light snack.

他不止是一餐發光的小點心。

Over the next hour, she slowly

再接下來的一個小時，她慢慢地

exsanguinates this male

把這隻雄螢火蟲的血抽光，

leaving behind just some gory remains.

只剩下一具血淋淋的軀殼。

Unable to make their own toxins,

因為不能製造自己的毒素，

these females resort to drinking the blood

這些雌螢火蟲依靠 喝其他螢火蟲的血，

of other fireflies to get these protective chemicals.

來得到這些有防衛作用的化學物質。

So a firefly vampire,

所以，在天擇下，

brought to you by natural selection.

吸血鬼螢火蟲誕生了。

We still have a lot to learn about fireflies,

還有很多關於螢火蟲的 故事等待我們去發現，

but it looks like many stories will remain untold,

但可能許多故事會永遠保持著緘默，

because around the world, firefly populations

因為在世界各地，螢火蟲

are blinking out.

在眨眼的瞬間已經滅絕。

The main culprit: habitat loss.

罪魁禍首是：棲息地的消失。

Pretty much everywhere, the fields and forests,

世界各地的許多曠野和森林， 紅樹林和草地，

the mangroves and meadows that fireflies need to survive,

這些螢火蟲生存需要的環境

are giving way to development and to sprawl.

都讓路給開發和擴張。

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

還有另一個問題： 我們已經征服了黑暗，

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

但在這個過程中， 我們把這麼多多餘的光投向夜晚，

that it disrupts the lives of other creatures,

這讓其他生物的生活陷入混亂，

and fireflies are especially sensitive to light pollution

螢火蟲對光害尤其敏感，

because it obscures the signals

因為這讓它們用來尋找配偶的

that they use to find their mates.

信號變得模糊不清。

Do we really need fireflies?

我們真的需要螢火蟲嗎？

After all, they're just one tiny bit

畢竟，它們只是地球生物多樣性中

of Earth's biodiversity.

一個微小的點。

Yet every time a species is lost,

然而每次一種生物滅絕，

it's like extinguishing a room full of candles

就像在一間擺滿蠟燭的房間裡

one by one.

一個接一個地熄滅蠟燭。

You might not notice

你可能不會注意

when the first few flames flicker out,

最初搖曳熄滅的那些火焰，

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

但最後，只剩下你獨自坐在黑暗中。

As we work together to craft a planetary future,

在我們一起努力為這個星球 創造美好的未來時，

I hope we can find a way

我希望我們可以找到一種方法

to keep these bright lights shining.

讓這些明亮的小燈籠繼續閃耀。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（鼓掌）