十億隻螞蟻的超級群落與地球上最大的戰爭：英語精讀講義

In nearly every corner of the Earth, 慣用語

在地球的幾乎每一個角落，

ants wage war against each other. 片語搭配

螞蟻都在互相交戰。

Their weapons are what nature gave them. 文法

牠們的武器是自然賦予的。

Some have strong armor,

有的擁有堅硬的盔甲，

deadly stingers,

致命的毒刺，

or sharp mandibles.

或鋒利的下顎。

And then there's this tiny and not very impressive ant, 表達脈絡

然而有這樣一種微小且不怎麼起眼的螞蟻，

but it rules the biggest empire any ant has ever built. 文法

卻統治著有史以來最大的螞蟻帝國。

A colony spanning continents

牠們建立了一個橫跨各大洲的群落，

and fighting wars that leave millions of casualties.

發動的戰爭造成了數以百萬計的傷亡。

Let's take a look at this unlikely warrioress Linepithema humile, 片語搭配

讓我們來看看這位意想不到的戰士——Linepithema humile，

the Argentine ant.

即阿根廷蟻。

This story begins in the floodplains around the Paraná River

故事始於巴拉那河周邊的洪泛區，

in South America.

位於南美洲。

It's a crowded ant megalopolis

這是一個擁擠的螞蟻大都市，

where dozens of ant species fight for dominance,

數十種螞蟻為了統治權而互相搏殺，

including fire ants, army ants,

包括火蟻、行軍蟻，

and the rather unimpressive Argentine ant.

以及相當不起眼的阿根廷蟻。

It measures only 2 to 3 mm in length, 片語搭配

牠的體長只有2到3公厘，

and with its small mandibles,

憑藉如此微小的下顎，

it's surprising that it survived among its buff competitors.

牠竟能在強壯的競爭對手中存活下來，實在令人驚訝。

Their homes are equally unremarkable.

牠們的家園同樣平淡無奇。

Their colonies range from fairly small to very large 文法

蟻群規模從小到大各不相同，

and could be found anywhere,

幾乎隨處可見，

under logs, in loose leaf litter,

在木頭下、鬆散的落葉層裡，

or the former colonies of other ants.

或是其他螞蟻廢棄的巢穴中。

Here, Argentine ants prepare their most effective weapon against their competitors,

在這裡，阿根廷蟻準備了對抗競爭對手最有效的武器，

bodies.

那就是無數的身軀。

Most ant species have only one queen to produce ants,

大多數螞蟻物種只有一隻蟻后負責繁衍，

while Argentine ants went all-in on numbers. 慣用語

而阿根廷蟻卻在數量上全押了。

For every 120 workers, 文法

每120隻工蟻，

there's one queen laying up to 60 eggs a day. 文法

就有一隻每天產卵高達60枚的蟻后。

So their colonies grow fast

因此牠們的蟻群擴張極快，

and have millions or billions of individuals.

擁有數百萬甚至數十億的個體。

Teams of queens and workers frequently branch out and found new colonies. 講解

蟻后和工蟻組成的隊伍經常分流去建立新巢。

But their strategy has a downside. 片語搭配

但牠們的策略也有一個缺點。

As colonies grow and produce a lot of offspring,

隨著蟻群擴大並產生大量後代，

mutations occur and new colonies adapt to new environments.

會發生基因突變，新群體也會適應新環境。

Their DNA slowly changes from generation to generation 片語搭配

牠們的DNA代代相傳發生緩慢變化，

and differences accumulate.

差異不斷累積。

So after a while,

於是過了一陣子，

the ants that left the colony will become more like distant cousins 慣用語

離開群體的螞蟻就變得更像是遠房親戚，

and start to compete with their mother colony.

並開始與母巢競爭。

In their native South American range,

在牠們南美洲的原產地，

this is how Argentine ants behave.

這正是阿根廷蟻的日常行為。

Within their colonies, they are very cooperative and well organized,

在蟻群內部，牠們非常合作且井然有序，

but they fight vicious wars against other Argentine ant colonies

但牠們與其他阿根廷蟻群

and other ant species.

以及其他螞蟻物種進行著殘酷的戰爭。

With equally strong opponents on every side,

面對四面八方同樣強大的對手，

the Argentine ant became extremely aggressive,

阿根廷蟻變得極具攻擊性，

fighting for every inch of ground. 慣用語

為每一寸土地而戰。

But it could never dominate its neighbors,

但牠始終無法支配鄰居，

until humans showed up. 表達脈絡

直到人類出現。

We did what humans do

我們做了人類慣做的事，

and transported things around the world by ship.

用船把物資運往世界各地。

On one of them,

在其中一艘船上，

a few Argentine ant queens hitched a ride 慣用語

幾隻阿根廷蟻后搭了便車，

as stowaways from South America

作為偷渡者從南美洲

to Madeira and New Orleans.

來到了馬德拉和紐奧良。

The Argentine ants suddenly found themselves 文法

阿根廷蟻突然發現自己

in a strange world.

處在一個陌生的世界裡。

Instead of being surrounded by deadly enemies, 文法

周圍不再有致命的強敵環伺，

they found only victims.

牠們發現的只有受害者。

Nobody could fight them effectively.

沒有誰能有效對抗牠們。

Because only a few Argentine ant queens were introduced

因為只有少數幾隻阿根廷蟻后被引入

to the outside world,

到了外部世界，

the resulting colonies had very low genetic diversity.

由此產生的蟻群遺傳多樣性極低。

On top of that, 表達脈絡

最重要的是，

the introduced Argentine ants kill up to 90%

入侵的阿根廷蟻每年會殺死多達90%

of their queens every year.

的自家蟻后。

Fewer queens, less genetic variation. 文法

蟻后越少，基因變異越少。

So, as these colonies spread across the landscape,

所以，當這些蟻群在整片土地上蔓延時，

ants that left the colony were no longer considered distant cousins.

離開母巢的螞蟻不再被視為遠房親戚。

As a result, 表達脈絡

結果，

the new colonies form not opposing, 文法

新的蟻群不再相互對立，

but cooperating parties called supercolonies.

而是形成了相互合作的陣營，被稱為超級蟻群。

This is a very uncommon strategy

這是一種極其罕見的策略，

in the ant kingdom.

在螞蟻王國中。

Only a few of the 16,000 ant species 文法

在16000種螞蟻中，只有極少數

have evolved supercolonies.

演化出了超級蟻群。

A supercolony was established on the west coast

一個超級蟻群在西海岸建立，

of the USA

即美國西海岸，

and became a base for the tiny ants' global conquest. 慣用語

並成為了這些小螞蟻征服全球的基地。

Today, the Argentine ant inhabits the Mediterranean zones

如今，阿根廷蟻棲息在六大洲

of six continents and many islands.

和許多島嶼的地中海氣候區。

This one supercolony was especially successful,

這個超級蟻群異常成功，

establishing sister locations in California,

在加利福尼亞、

Europe, Japan, New Zealand and Australia,

歐洲、日本、紐西蘭和澳洲建立了姐妹基地，

forming one massive intercontinental megacolony

形成了一個龐大的跨洲巨型蟻群，

of Argentine ants.

全由阿根廷蟻組成。

This makes them the largest society on Earth,

這使牠們成為地球上最大的社會，

more numerous than even the human one. 文法

甚至比人類的數量還要多。

But their success has changed the ecosystems they invaded.

但牠們的成功改變了所入侵的生態系統。

California is a perfect example of this.

加利福尼亞就是一個完美的例子。

In their greed for more territory,

在貪婪掠奪更多領土的過程中，

the invading Argentine ants have overrun and replaced 90%

入侵的阿根廷蟻已經踏平並取代了90%

of the native ant species,

的本土螞蟻物種，

including several species of Californian carpenter ants.

包括幾種加州弓背蟻。

Although carpenter ant workers are giants,

儘管弓背蟻工蟻體型巨大，

their colonies have only between 3,000 and 6,000 individuals

牠們的蟻群卻只有3000到6000隻個體，

and stand no chance against an expanding supercolony 片語搭配

在面對由數十億隻阿根廷蟻組成、

of billions of Argentine ants.

不斷擴張的超級蟻群時毫無勝算。

Argentine ant workers attack by wiping toxic chemicals on their victims, 文法

阿根廷蟻工蟻透過向受害者塗抹有毒化學物質進行攻擊，

which irritates the enemy and marks them as a target for other Argentine ants. 片語搭配

這會刺激敵人，並將其標記為其他阿根廷蟻的攻擊目標。

When they attack,

當牠們發起攻擊時，

the Argentine ants wash over their victims, 慣用語

阿根廷蟻如潮水般湧向受害者，

clinging onto their opponents in groups

成群結隊地死死抱住對手，

and pulling apart their limbs.

並把牠們的四肢硬生生扯下。

It doesn't matter how many of them die, 文法

無論死多少同伴都沒關係，

there are always more.

總有更多的螞蟻補上。

Once the colony is overrun and exterminated, 文法

一旦這個蟻巢被攻陷和殲滅，

the Argentine ants feed on their victims' brood 片語動詞

阿根廷蟻就會把受害者的幼崽當作食物，

and take over their home and territory. 片語動詞

並接管牠們的家園和領地。

The Argentine ants' numbers allow them to hunt down and devour such an excessive mass 文法

阿根廷蟻的數量使牠們能夠追捕並吞食如此龐大

of different insects that over time,

種類的其他昆蟲，以至於隨著時間推移，

some species disappear from the ants' territory completely.

一些物種徹底從螞蟻的領地上消失了。

Argentine ants don't care about working with the local flora and fauna,

阿根廷蟻根本不在乎與當地的動植物群落協同共生，

they consume them and move on. 片語動詞

牠們只會將其吞噬，然後繼續前進。

And if their next stop happens to be human property, 文法

如果牠們的下一站碰巧是人類的財產，

they will rudely make themselves at home there too. 慣用語

牠們也會毫不客氣地在那裡安家。

They forage in dumpsters,

牠們在垃圾桶、

bowls of pet food,

寵物飯盆裡覓食，

and sneak into kitchens to claim leftovers.

還溜進廚房搶奪剩菜。

Not just our homes, 文法

不僅是我們的家，

our gardens and fields are also impacted by Argentine ants,

我們的花園和農田也受到阿根廷蟻的影響，

since they tend to hordes of aphids as their cattle. 用詞

因為牠們把成群的蚜蟲當作家畜來放牧。

The aphids feed from plants and produce a sweet honeydew,

蚜蟲吸食植物汁液並分泌出甜美的蜜露，

which they trade with the ants for protection.

用來與螞蟻交換保護。

Since the ants have no major enemy to fear in their new homes,

由於螞蟻在新家裡沒有可怕的天敵，

the aphids thrive and ultimately kill the plants they live on.

蚜蟲便大量繁衍，最終使得牠們寄生的植物枯死。

So on top of being a major disruption for the ecosystems they invade, 表達脈絡

因此，除了是對牠們入侵的生態系統的重大破壞，

they are also a huge pest for agriculture.

牠們也是農業上的一種巨大害蟲。

But the rule of the Argentine ant is being challenged.

但阿根廷蟻的統治正受到挑戰。

Parts of the supercolonies have broken off 片語動詞

部分超級蟻群已經分裂，

and become their own empires.

成為自己獨立的帝國。

A merciless civil war has broken out. 片語動詞

一場無情的內戰爆發了。

For example,

例如，

the Lake Hodges supercolony has been fighting against the very large colony 文法

霍奇斯湖超級蟻群一直在此與那個巨型蟻群激烈交戰，

for years in San Diego County.

在聖地牙哥郡已經打了好幾年。

A massive war is going on over a dynamic front line

一場跨越動態前線的大規模戰爭正在進行中，

stretching over kilometers.

戰線綿延數公里。

An estimated 30 million ants die here each year.

據估計，每年有3000萬隻螞蟻在這裡陣亡。

On other fronts, 表達脈絡

而在其他戰線上，

an old acquaintance from the Paraná River

一位來自巴拉那河的老相識

has risen from the shadows. 慣用語

從陰影中崛起了。

Red imported fire ants,

那就是入侵紅火蟻，

which were accidentally introduced from their old home 用詞

牠們從老家被意外引入

to the coast of Alabama.

到了阿拉巴馬州的海岸。

Not only are the red fire ants fierce fighters 文法

紅火蟻不僅是兇猛的戰士，

and more than able to deal with the Argentine ant, 片語搭配

綽綽有餘地能夠對付阿根廷蟻，

they are also able to form supercolonies themselves.

牠們本身也能夠形成超級蟻群。

Now the old wars from their distant home

現在，牠們遙遠故鄉的舊日戰爭

have been taken to a foreign battleground.

被轉移到了異國的戰場上。

In the southeastern US,

在美國東南部，

the supercolonies clashed fiercely.

超級蟻群之間發生了激烈的衝突。

The Argentine ants found themselves outgunned by the fire ants. 用詞

阿根廷蟻發現自己在火力上完全不敵火蟻。

The fire ants' major workers are more than twice the size 文法

火蟻的大型工蟻體型比

of the Argentine ants and wield venom-injecting stings.

阿根廷蟻大兩倍以上，且長有可注射毒液的螫針。

Even though the Argentine ants fought fiercely,

儘管阿根廷蟻奮力抵抗，

the fire ants were too much for them. 慣用語

火蟻對牠們來說還是太過強大了。

After countless lost battles,

在經歷了無數次敗仗之後，

the red imported fire ant exterminated the Argentine ants supercolony

入侵紅火蟻消滅了阿根廷蟻的超級蟻群，

from much of the southeastern US.

將其驅逐出了美國東南部的廣闊地區。

This is one territory lost,

這只是一塊失地，

but the Argentine ants will fight on.

但阿根廷蟻仍會繼續戰鬥下去。

This amazing network of cooperating supercolonies

這個由相互合作的超級蟻群組成的驚人網絡

is the biggest success in their history.

是牠們歷史上最大的成功。

And they'll not give it up 片語動詞

牠們不會放棄它，

because of a small defeat.

絕不會因為一次小小的失敗。

They will stand their ground against any enemy 慣用語

牠們將堅守陣地，對抗任何

that might arise.

可能出現的敵人。

No matter if it's on the Paraná River 文法

無論是在巴拉那河，

or on one of the large battlefields

還是在廣闊的戰場上，

across the world.

那些遍布世界各地的戰場。