How To Grow A Planet 2of3《种出个地球（2）》完整中英文对照剧本.docx

我一生大部分时间I'vespentmostofmylife都用于探究塑造地球的力量tryingtounderstandtheforcesthatshapedourplanet,身为地质学家andasageologist,italwaysseemedtome按说研究岩石才是我的本份thatrockswererightattheheartofthings.伊安斯图瓦特教授但此刻我意识到Butnow,mdiscovering并非只有火山或板块撞击it,snotonlyvolcanoesandcollidingcontinents才造就了沧海桑田thathavedriventheEarth'sgreatestchanges,因为在地球史的重要时刻becauseatcrucialmomentsinitshistory,还有另一种力量也在创造我们的家园anotherforcehashelpedcreatetheplanetweliveon.这便是植物.plants.这是地球史上崭新篇章It,sawholenewstoryabouttheEarth,它将向我们揭示地球诞生之初revealinghow,fromitsearliesthistory,植物如何雕琢我们的世界plantshaveshapedourworld.节目至此我们已经见识到植物及其先祖Sofar,we'veseenhowplantsandtheirancestorsbegan如何改造出生命赖以存活的大气byproducingourlife-givingatmosphere.我吸入的氧气mbreathingoxygenthat产生于25亿年之前wasmadetwo-and-a-halfbillionyearsago.绿色植物吸收日光They'dharnessedlightfromthesun,为地球带来能量bringingenergytotheworld.它们滋养出肥沃的土壤Andthey'dformedthefertilesoil,使得生命得以统治陆地allowinglifetocolonisetheland.下面的节目将引领我们进人更深的领域Butthenextchapterwilltakeusevenfurther,因为一个植物王国的超级新贵即将登场becauseapowerfulnewcomertotheplantworldwasonitsway.它将征服地球的每一个角落Itwouldconquereverycorneroftheplanet.刻画出地球的每一寸肌肤ItwouldshapetheverysurfaceoftheEarth并且推动动物的进化anditwoulddrivetheevolutionofanimallife,包括我们人类的祖先includingourownancestors.下面就是它的故事Thisisitsstory.植物之歌♥第二集花的力量这些建筑已有近千年的历史Thesebuildingsarenearly1,000yearsold.是世界上最庞大的宗教场所Thelargestreligioussiteintheworld,占地达200平方公里covering200squarekilometres.这便是柬埔寨的吴哥箱庙宇ThisisthetempleofAngkorWatinCambodia.我此行旨在见证Iamheretowitnesstheimportance一个人间最神圣的宗教符号♥的意义ofoneofthemostpowerfulsymbolsknowntohumankind.那个早期佛教仪式的核心符号♥AsymbolcentraltoanancientBuddhistceremony.花Flowers.大家看那里Youseelotusflowersand布置的莲花和茉莉开得多公美jasminejustarrangedbeautifullyupthere.较大的莲花Thelotusarethebigones成串的小花则是茉莉andthejasminethetrailoflittleflowers.看到莲花瓣是如何层叠折在一起了吧Seehowthelotuspetalsareallfoldedinamongstthemselves,不同的层代表相应的第几重天thedifferentlayersrepresentingthevariouslevelsofheaven.对于这些僧人花扮演着重要角色Forthesemonks,flowershaveacrucialrole.这只是某一宗教的仪式之一Andthisisjustoneceremonyfromonereligion.全世界不同文化中花都相当重要Flowersarecentraltoculturesthroughouttheworld.花深深融入了每个人的生活They'redeeplywovenintoallourlives.然而花不仅只为人类痴迷Butit,snotonlyahumanobsession.因为自从其诞生Becausesincetheyevolved,开花植物就成为flowershavebeenthe地球所有生命的原动力drivingforceforthewholeoflifeonEarth.事实上开花植物They'vebecomeenmeshedinthelives与整个动物王国的各个物种都有着千丝万缕的联♥系♥ofvirtuallytheentireanimalkingdominallitsrichdiversity.从最小的昆虫到某些大型哺乳动物Fromthesmallestinsecttosomeofthelargestmammals,都曾被开花植物改造they'veallbeenshapedbyflowers.这又是如何发生的呢Buthowdidthishappen?原因又是什么Andwhy?开花植物的出现Theemergenceofflowers是地球发展史上一个重要转折点isoneofthebiggestturningpointsinEarth'shistory.为了研究开花植物如何改变地球Tounderstandhowtheychangedourplanet,我们需要重归史前时代weneedtogorightbacktoaprehistorictime.追溯到第一朵花绽放的时刻.tothemomentwhentheveryfirstflowerappeared.1.4亿年之前的地球Upuntilaround140millionyearsago,与今日有着天壤之别theEarthwasverydifferent.恐龙统治着整个动物王国Theanimalkingdomwasdominatedbydinosaurs.大家今天熟知的几块大♥陆♥尚未形成Andtheseparatecontinentsweknowtodaydidn'texist.相反只存在一块巨大的整体大♥陆♥古泛大♥陆♥Instead,therehadbeenasinglehugecontinent,Pangaea.我正前往一个与远古超级大♥陆♥mheadingforaplacethat'saboutascloseasyoucanget极为相似的地方tothatancientsupercontinent.位于距澳大利亚1500公里之遥的南太平洋It,sintheremoteSouthPacific,1,500kmfromAustralia.新喀里多尼亚岛TheislandofNewCaledonia.这里仿佛世外桃源对不对ItlookslikeParadise,doesn'tit?新喀里多尼亚之所以引人关注WhatmakesNewCaledoniajustsointeresting是因为这里就像是远古植物的诺亚方舟isthatit'slikeaNoah'sArkofancientplants.这次短暂的旅行Thislittlejourneyisgoing将我们带回至1.4亿年之前totakeusbackintime140millionyears.因为这一地区的与世隔绝Becausethispartoftheworldissoisolated,能让我们一瞥花出现之前的植物世界itgivesaglimpseoftheplantworldbeforeflowersexisted.当时植物王国有两大统治者Backthen,theplantkingdomhadtwomightyrulers.一个是高耸的针叶林Oneofthemwasthetallconifers,如这种史前巨松likethisprehistoricspeciesofpine.看看这些树非常怪异是吧1.ookatthesetrees.Bizarre,aren'tthey?树体相当大They'rehuge.南洋杉库克松Araucaria,Cookpine,后者以探险至此的库克船长得名namedafterCaptainCookwhoexploredthiscorneroftheworld.松树属于针叶科树种Pinetreesareafamilyof针叶科是世界上最古老的物种之一conifersthatareamongsttheoldestintheworld在恐龙出没的时代sowhenthedinosaurswerearound,它们是真正的“庞然大树”thesewerenature'srealgiants.花的出现之所以如此具有革命意义Whatmadeflowerssorevolutionary因为此前的远古植物都有其局限性wasthelimitationsoftheancientplantsthatcamebeforethem.针叶植物孕育后代Toreproduce,conifers要依靠变幻莫测的风likethesereliedonthevagariesofthewind.这是花粉针叶植物的雄性生殖细胞Thisispollen,themalesexcellsofconifers.每粒花粉要放大1000倍才能被肉眼看到Eachgrainhastobemagnified1,000timestoreallyseeit.其两侧各有一个气囊用来捕捉微风Thetwoairsacs,oneineachside,catchthebreeze.运气好的话雄性花粉会被Withluck,themalepollenwillbeblown吹至附近树上的雌球花toafemaleconeonanearbytree.要想成功每株针叶植物都需要大量花粉Butforthattohappen,eachconiferneedsvastamounts.非常浪费It,sverywasteful.一棵树就要生产多达100亿粒花粉Upto10billiongrainshavetobereleasedbyasingletree.当时植物王国另一大统治者是蕨类植物Theotherbigplayerbackthenwastheferns.它们的繁殖方式同样具有局限性Theirmethodofreproductionwasalsorestricting.因为蕨类植物在湿润环境孕育而生Becausefernsevolvedinwet,swampyconditions,所以要利用水传送生殖细胞theyneededwatertotransporttheirsexcells.它们有一种巧妙的办法Andtheyuseasurprisingdevice.那就是释放精♥子♥Whattheydoistheyreleaseasperm,精♥子♥在水中游动然后进入附近的植物whichswimsthroughthewaterandmudtoanearbyplant再使卵子受孕andfertilisestheegg.显微镜下可以看到它们激烈窜动Underamicroscope,youcanseethatbythrashingaround,雄性精♥子♥细胞本能地涌入水中themalespermcellcanpropelitselfthroughwater.它们在水中可以游动两小时It,sabletoswimforovertwohours.实在是令人赞叹It'samazingtothinkthataplant植物竟然能够排出类似人类精♥子♥的细胞producessomethinglikeahumansperm.但不利一面是蕨类植物离不开水生环境Butthedownsidewasthatfernshadtolivenearwater.这是个巨大的局限Itwashugelylimiting.这一切都说明古泛大♥陆♥上最缺乏的是AllthismeantsomethingwaslackingintheworldofPangaea.生物多样性.Diversity.蕨类植物种类稀少针叶树种更加贫乏Therewerefewspeciesoffernsandevenfewertypesofconifers.当时植物物种数量仅为今天的1%Just1%oftherangeofplantswehavetoday.同样动物王国也具有局限性Andtheanimalkingdomwasalsolimited.科学家已发现700种不同种类恐龙的证据Scientistshavefoundevidenceof700differentdinosaurs.听着数目庞大Itsoundsalot,但今天仅哺乳类物种就超过5500个buttodaythereareover5,500speciesofmammalsalone.当时的物种极度缺稀Therewaslittlevariety.世界上只有单调的绿色Itwasamonotonousgreenworld.于是地球上的生命本可以这样继续繁衍下去Andthat'showlifeontheplanetwouldhavecontinued.1.4亿年前古泛大♥陆♥的某个地方140millionyearsago,somewhereinPangaea,某一个物种的某一株植物oneplantofonespecies偶然间学会了一个新的繁殖本领happenedtochanceonanewwayofreproducing.地球的历史也就此改变AnditwouldchangetheEarthforever.我踏入了新喀里多尼亚丛林的深处vepushedfurtherintoNewCaledonia1Sjungle.这次要寻找的植物极其罕见Theplantmafterisreallyrare,所以我才要不远万里来到此地whichiswhyvecomesofar.这种植物只在此处存在Thisistheonlyplacethatyoufindit其它地方早已灭绝It'sdiedouteverywhereelse.茫茫林海中想要找到它如同大海捞针Mindyou,amongstallofthis,it,slikeaneedleinahaystack.等等Hangonaminute.叶子看着挺像Thatlooksliketheleaves.就是这种树Thatwood.找到了Gotthem.我踏遍世界各地就是为了找它vecomeallthewayroundtheworldtofindthat一种最早的开花植物ThatistheAmborellaplant.无油樟仅存于新喀里多尼亚岛是现存的Amborellatrichopodaistheclosestlivingrelative与最早的开花植物最为相近的物种ofthefirstflowertoevolve.今天所有开花植物均源于其先祖Allflowerstodayhavedescendedfromitsancestor.植物学家认为某株植物的叶子Botanistsbelieveitbeganwhenasingleplantmutated变异后长成了花瓣不再是绿色tohaveleavesthatbecamepetalswhich,insteadofbeinggreen,而是近似无油樟花朵的那种白色wereprobablywhitelikethoseofAmborella.如今我们籽其视为Wenowconsiderthemtobe首个开花类植物开出的首批花瓣theveryfirstpetalsoftheveryfirstflower.为了理解这种植物的深刻意义Tograspthesignificanceofthisplant,就要设想这样一个场景youhavetoimagineascene在某一片远古森林中insomeprimordialforest放眼望去只有单一的绿色whereeverything'sjustcompletelygreen.然后一抹闪动的洁白突然映入眼帘Andthenthere'sthisflashofcolourandglintofwhite.就是某一次偶然的突变Somechancemutation.而突然有一天Andthethingisthat一只小小的甲虫在茎叶上爬来爬去scurryingamongstitisalittlebeetle.当然我假想的不是蜜蜂Certainlynotabee因为那时蜜蜂还未进化出来becausebeeshadn'tevolvedyet,甲虫好奇地观察着这万绿丛中的一点白butabeetlespiesthisdashofwhite小步急趋地赶过去一探究竟andscurriesacrosstohavealook.大快朵颐地吞下了那些白色的Andthenmunchesontheselittlewhitebuds满是花粉的小花蕾thatarejustpackedfullofpollen.但甲虫并没有吞下所有的花粉Butnotallthepolleniseaten.其中一部分粘在了它的身上Somestickstothebeetle,并被它带到了其他植物那里andonitgoestootherplants.不经意间它竟成了一位信使Unknowingly,it'sbecomeacourier,将花粉从一株植物传递到另一株植物deliveringpollenfromplanttoplant,在觅食过程中扮演着替花传粉的角色pollinatingthemasitlooksforfood.植物逐渐进化出了十分精妙的繁殖方式PlantshadevolvedaningeniouswayOfreproducing它们摒弃了那些很难掌控的传粉方式thatnolongerreliedonhaphazardmethods,比如像针叶树那样靠风传粉likethewindforconifers或是像蕨类植物那样靠水传粉orwaterforferns.昆虫传粉则非常可靠Insteaditwasreliable.因为它们直接把花粉传到另一株植物那里Insectscarriedpollendirectlytootherplants.这就是花的诞生Itwasthebirthofflowers.我们恐怕难以理解它意义多么重大It'shardtograspjusthowrevolutionarythiswas.过去一提到地球上发生的重大变革musedtothinkingofmomentouschangesintheEarth我就觉得那定是天翻地覆asoccurringthroughhugeevents,比如巨大的版块相撞高山拔地而起vastcontinentscollidingormountainsuplifting,相较而言花的诞生显得微乎其微butthiswasthetiniestofevents.因为这不过是一株植物恰巧变广模样Asubtlealterationofhowaplantlooked又恰巧被好奇的昆虫遇上andachanceencounterwithacuriousbeetle.但花的诞生却令整个世界从此不同Andonthebackofthat,theworldchangedforever.当时的古泛大♥陆♥Backthen,thesupercontinentofPangaea正在逐步分♥裂♥wassplittingup.很多小块的大♥陆♥正在形成Smallercontinentswereforming.创造了无数新的地貌景观creatingcountlessnewlandscapes.新气候新环境withnewclimatesandenvironments.山脉拔地而起risingmountainranges.干涸荒芜的沙漠也随之形成anddryinhospitabledeserts.针叶植物和蕨类离不开风和水Forconifersandferns,sodependentonwindandwater,在新环境下无法繁衍下去thenewlandscapeswereimpregnable.可对于开花植物来说Butforfloweringplants,这则是企盼已久的好机会itwasthechancethey'dbeenwaitingfor.因为它们拥有强有力且与生俱来的长处Becausetheyhadapowerfulin-builtadvantage.这是一棵智利南洋杉Thisisamonkeypuzzletree.如大多数针叶树一样1.ikemostconifers,智利南洋杉可以活几百年之久monkeypuzzlesliveforhundredsofyears,关键是直到40岁andcrucially,theydon,treachsexualmaturity它们才达到性成熟tillthey're40.而这是剪秋罗花Now,thisisacampionflower,与智利南洋杉相比它显得很不起眼whichintheshadowofthisthinglooksprettypuny,但剪秋罗花却最终更胜一筹butthecampionflowerhasthelastlaugh,因为与大多数花一样它成熟得很快becausethis,likemostflowers,maturesmuchquicker.事实上剪秋罗花Infact,thecampionflower在4个月的时候就能够繁衍了canreproduceafterjustfourmonths.这意味着在智利南洋杉繁衍出Itmeansthatinthetimethatittakesthisconifer下一代所需的时间内toproducejustonegeneration,剪秋罗花早已繁衍出了120代theflowerscangothrough120generations.这为进化历程带来的影响What'ssofascinatingistheimpact十分令人震惊thatthishasgotonevolution因为每一代新生命的诞生becauseeverytimethere'sanewgeneration,都意味着发生基因突变的机会there,sapossibilityofageneticmutation,而这些基因突变很可能为生物带来amutationthatmightgiveacharacteristic一些利于它们生存下去的特性thathelpssurvival.所以说生物的生命周期更迭得越快Sothefasterthelifecycles,就会产生更多能够适应环境的物种themorespeciescanadapttonewenvironments,而这对于我们要讲述的故事来说至关重要which,ofcourse,iscrucialtoourstory.14亿年前开花植物迅速更迭的生命周期140millionyearsago,theserapidlifecycles使它们得以在最恶劣的环境中繁衍生息helpedflowersexploitthemosthostileenvironments.比如南非坦科瓦卡鲁国家公园JustlikeTankwaKarooinSouthAfrica.在这荒漠之下Becausebeneaththisdesert隐藏着一大♥片♥花的海洋isahiddencarpetofflowers.每年这里仅有两个月会出现降水Eachyear,itrainsforjusttwomonths.而植物只能利用这极短的时间去繁衍后代Theplantsonlyhavethisbriefwindowtoreproduce.那它们如何保证自己能及时地授粉呢Sohowdotheyensuretheyarepollinatedintime?于是它们的花瓣进化出了颜色Theyevolvedcolour.大家看到的各种花都是在用自身的颜色Eachtypeofflowerthatyouseeisusingcolour去争奇斗艳以吸引昆虫的注意inastruggletogetnoticedbyinsects.时间非常紧迫Andthereisn'tmuchtime.几周甚至几天之后雨季便会过去Inafewweeksordaystherainswillbegone,而如果到那时andiftheseflowers花朵还未被授粉就会枯死aren'tfertilisedbythen,theplantswilldie孕育新生命的机会也随之成为泡影andtheopportunitytoreproducewillbelost.百余种不同的花Hundredsofdifferentflowers,十余种不同的颜色dozensOfdifferentcolours,从黄澄澄的勋章菊whetheritbeorangegazanias,到紫艳艳的露水花purpledewflowers,再到红彤彤的球状豌豆花ortheredballoonpeaplant花的颜色并非随机而来Anditwasn'trandom.许多花都会利用不同的颜色去吸引昆虫Manyusedadifferentspecificcolourtoattractinsects.这样有的放矢Theybecametargets,usinginsectstotransfer即使距离很远昆虫也能够therightpollentotherightplant,将花粉传递到与之匹配的花朵上evenovergreatdistances.不仅如此花还巧妙地进化出了Andflowersevolvedacleverway一种使其颜色更具吸引力的方法toenhancethiscolour.肉眼看上去花瓣似乎很光滑Tothenakedeye,apetallookssmooth.可是放大1000倍之后Butmagnifyit1,000times花瓣真正的结构便一览无余了andyoucanseeitsrealstructure.花瓣的表面根本一点都不平整It'snotaflatsurfaceatall.相反上面布满了无数球形疙瘩Instead,thepetalismadeupOfcountlessnodules.每一个疙瘩都好比一个三棱镜Eachactslikeatinyprism,它们能够反射并衍射太阳光线whichreflectsanddiffractslight.使花瓣显得色彩斑斓Itgivesthepetalaniridescence,引得往来昆虫为之驻足toattractpassinginsects.花对颜色的利用甚至达到了更高的境界Andintheiruseofcolour,flowerswentevenfurther.这家伙很拉风吧It,saheckofacontraption,isn'tit?这是一台特制照相机可以让我Aspecialcameratogiveyouakindof.看到昆虫眼中的花究竟什么模样insect'sviewofwhataflowerlookslike.看啊真是美极了That'snice.1.ookatthat昆虫和这台相机一样Insectsandthiscamera都能够看到紫外线的存在canseeapartofthelightspectrumcalledultraviolet而人类却看不到that,snormallyinvisibletoushumans.透过照相机的镜头我们会发现Thecamerarevealshowflowers我们眼中再平常不过的花thatappearplaintous在昆虫眼中却完全是另外一副模样lookcompletelydifferenttoinsects.这些花瓣上的纹路至关重要Andthemarkingsarereallyimportant因为它们好比机场跑道的信♥号♥♥灯becausetheyarelikeairportrunwaylights是它们引领着昆虫降落到花瓣上thatguidetheinsectdownontothepetals.仿佛是霓虹灯招牌上书“免费品尝”1.ikeneonsignsthatsay"Freefoodhere".就算花朵已经完成授粉Butoncetheflowerswerepollinated,它们依然面临着严峻的挑战theystillfacedabigchallenge,因为它们还须保证自己的后代becausetheiroffspringthen能够在接下来的旱季中生存下去hadtomakeitthroughtherestoftheyear.在卡鲁国家公园旱季长达十个月之久HereintheKaroo,thatcouldbetenmonthsofdrought.为了生存花又进化出了另一个妙招Tosurvive,flowersperfectedanothertrick,其为地球上生命带来的影响不容小觑whichhadapowerfulimpactonlifeonEarth.那就是种子Seeds.种子具有非凡的能力Becauseseedshavethisremarkableability而我们总是将这一点忽视thatwedon'tnormallythinkabout.这些是美人蕉的种子这个.TheseareseedsoftheCannaindicaflower,andthis.是一颗空猎枪弹壳Thisisanemptyshotguncartridge.我将那些种子塞入空弹壳之中mgoingtopacktheseeds用它们代替铅弹inwheretheleadpelletswouldhavebeen.完全打穿了Oh!It'sgonerightthrough.快看哪1.ookatthat!这些种子却完好无损Thatlooksperfectlyintact据说在19世纪Thestorygoesthatduring印度反英暴♥动♥期间theIndianMutinyofthe19thcentury,士兵们用的就是这种种子而非铅弹soldiersusedtheseseedsinsteadofleadshot.它们非常坚硬在射出枪膛They'rehardenoughtobeblasted穿过木板之后依旧可以亳发无损outofabarrelandthroughwood.这些种子是如此坚硬Theseseedsaresotough,infact,据说就算从枪膛中射出之后thatit'ssaidthatdespitebeingfiredfromagun,它们依然可以发芽theycanstillgerminate.听上去很不可思议吧Soundsunlikely,Iknow,不过我们等着瞧吧thoughwe,llsee.种子的长处不仅在于具有坚不可摧的种皮Butatoughshellwasn'tall,因为开花植物的种子还进化出了becauseseedsfromfloweringplants一项在进化历程中更具竞争力的developedafurtherevolutionaryadvantage且在世上绝无仅有的能力thatnootherplantpossessed.这一切还要从授粉的那一刻说起Itallstartsatthemomentofpollination.昆虫将花粉运送到花柱上Havingbeendeliveredbyaninsect,每粒花粉中都有两个细胞twocellsfromthepollen它们一路向下进入花朵的子房♥burrowdeepintotheflower'sovary.其中的生殖细胞使卵细胞受精Here,onefertilisesanegg从而形成植物的胚胎tocreateanembryonicplant.然而真正的聪明才智体现在But,andhere'sthecleverbit,花粉中的第二个细胞thesecondcellfromthepollen有着完全不同的使命doesacompletelydifferentjob.这个细胞并非是要成为一株植物Insteadofbecominganewplant,而是为受精卵提供营养itgrowsintoafoodsourceforthefertilisedegg.就像便当一样Akindofpackedlunch.这叫做双受精