Hundreds of sea lions wash up dead in Chile 智利上百隻海獅屍體被沖上岸

Most of the dead sea lions that are washing up along northern Chile are newborn pups. The deaths are part of a widespread die-off observed elsewhere on South America's Pacific coastline. Part of the problem: El Niño.





(CNN)-Marine researchers have found more than 100 dead sea lions -- most of them newborns -- washed ashore along a relatively small peninsula in northern Chile over the past three months, part of a more widespread die-off being observed elsewhere on South America's Pacific coast.

(CNN)-海洋生態研究員發現，過去三個月有超過100隻的海獅屍體，而且大多都是新生兒，被沖上智利北部小半島的沿岸，在南美洲太平洋沿岸的其他地方也發現了部分大規模相繼死亡的現象。

 

"This is happening along the entire coast of northern Chile and we're getting reports that it's also happening in Peru, our neighbor to the north," researcher Carlos Guerra-Correa told CNN. "We could be talking about hundreds of sea lions washing up ashore dead in the entire region."

研究員Carlos Guerra-Correa向CNN表示：「智利北部沿岸皆有此現象發生，而我們也收到消息顯示，我們北部的鄰國秘魯也有此現象發生，藉此我們可以得知，整個地區皆有數百隻海師屍體被沖上岸。」

 




The South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) is the species affected by the die-off observed in the area of the Mejillones Peninsula in Antofagasta province, where the researchers routinely conduct marine studies.


在安托法加斯塔省的梅希約內斯半島發現受到相繼死亡現象影響的物種為南美洲的海獅(南海獅)，是研究者定期做海洋生態研究的地方。


 


Guerra-Correa said he is concerned that the vast majority of the dead sea mammals are newborns -- though some juveniles and adults have been found.


"Some of the dead animals we have found still had their umbilical cord attached," Guerra-Correa said. "We found one with a placenta."


Guerra-Correa表示他擔心的是雖然有些被發現的海獅屍體是幼兒或是成年的動物，但是大多數都是剛出生的嬰兒。


Guerra-Correa說：「我們發現有些屍體臍帶還沒斷，還有一隻還連著胎盤。」




What's killing the sea lions?

Guerra-Correa says a series of factors affecting the sea lions' food sources are to blame for the deaths.

海獅殺手

Guerra-Correa認為有一連串的原因影響海獅的食物來源，進而導致他們死亡。

 

First, there's El Niño. The recurring climate pattern across the tropical Pacific brings warm water to the coasts of Chile. This warm water does not have the same nutrients of phytoplankton that colder water has.

首先是聖嬰現象，熱帶太平洋上反覆的氣候現象，在智利的沿岸帶來暖流，這溫暖海水浮游植物養分含量不像冰冷海水的一樣多。

 

Phytoplankton is important because it feeds sardines and anchovies that sea lions thrive on. In other words, sea lions seem to be starving to death because the food chain has been disrupted.

浮游植物之所以重要，是因為海獅是靠吃沙丁魚和鯷魚維生的，而這兩者都以浮游植物為食，換句話說，海獅之所以餓死是因為食物鏈被破壞了。

 

"Starvation is primarily affecting female sea lions in the latter stages of pregnancy. That's why their babies are dying at birth or being miscarried," said Guerra-Correa, who is director of the Regional Center for Environmental Studies and Education at Antofagasta University.

在安托法加斯塔大学，環境研究和教育中心的負責人Guerra-Correa說道：「饑荒主要影響母海獅懷孕的最後階段，這也是為什麼他們的寶寶會一出生就死掉或是流產。」

 




What's killing the sea lions?


Guerra-Correa says a series of factors affecting the sea lions' food sources are to blame for the deaths.


海獅殺手


Guerra-Correa認為有一連串的原因影響海獅的食物來源，進而導致他們死亡。


 


First, there's El Niño. The recurring climate pattern across the tropical Pacific brings warm water to the coasts of Chile. This warm water does not have the same nutrients of phytoplankton that colder water has.


首先是聖嬰現象，熱帶太平洋上反覆的氣候現象，在智利的沿岸帶來暖流，這溫暖海水浮游植物養分含量不像冰冷海水的一樣多。


 


Phytoplankton is important because it feeds sardines and anchovies that sea lions thrive on. In other words, sea lions seem to be starving to death because the food chain has been disrupted.


浮游植物之所以重要，是因為海獅是靠吃沙丁魚和鯷魚維生的，而這兩者都以浮游植物為食，換句話說，海獅之所以餓死是因為食物鏈被破壞了。


 


"Starvation is primarily affecting female sea lions in the latter stages of pregnancy. That's why their babies are dying at birth or being miscarried," said Guerra-Correa, who is director of the Regional Center for Environmental Studies and Education at Antofagasta University.


在安托法加斯塔大学，環境研究和教育中心的負責人Guerra-Correa說道：「饑荒主要影響母海獅懷孕的最後階段，這也是為什麼他們的寶寶會一出生就死掉或是流產。」


 


Also, he says, over-fishing is aggravating the problem because it dramatically reduces feeding options for sea lions and other species.


他表示，而且過度捕魚加速惡化了這個問題，因為海獅及其他物種能選擇的糧食急劇減少了。


 
Whale skeletons found in southern Chile

智利南部發現鯨魚殘骸

 

Teams with Chile's National Fishing Service are investigating what the Chilean government calls "massive deaths of cetaceans." Investigators have found dead whales in Penas Gulf in the Aysen Region located in southern Chile.

智利國家漁業局團隊正在調查智利政府所謂的「鯨魚大規模死亡」，調查者在智利南邊艾森大區的佩納斯灣發現鯨魚屍體。

 

The National Fishing Service reports the finding of 70 skeletons. They also found the bodies of two other animals, possibly whales, which died recently. Officials also blame these deaths in a disruption in the food chain.

國家漁業局回報發現70具殘骸，他們也另外發現兩具最近死亡的其他動物，疑似鯨魚的屍體，官方也將這些死亡情況歸咎於食物鏈遭破壞。

 

Guerra-Correa the news is not so bad for South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis), which seem to be surviving the disruption of the food chain.

"Unlike the other affected species, these sea lions are able to swim much deeper and find fish that are not present in shallow waters," he said.

Guerra-Correa的消息指出，並沒有對南美洲毛皮海獅(學名: Arctocephalus australis)造成傷害，他們似乎在食物鏈被破壞中倖免。

他說：「不像其他受影響的物種，這些海獅能游到更深的地方去找不在淺水區的深海魚。」

 

Both the fur seal and sea lion can be found along the continent's southern Pacific and Atlantic coasts.

都能在南太平洋及大西洋岸邊的陸上發現南美洲毛皮海獅跟南海獅。

這個網誌中的熱門文章

China opens former nuclear plant to tourism 中國前核電廠 對外開放觀光

圖片
China 816 Nuclear Military Plant is a decommissioned Cold War era plutonium and weapons processing facility buried in the Chongqing mountains 中國 816 核工廠是深埋在重慶山底下，於冷戰時期生產原料鈽及武器的廢棄工廠。 China 816 – Now open to tourists, the China 816 Nuclear Military Plant is a decommissioned Cold War-era plutonium and weapons processing facility buried in the Chongqing mountains 中國 816 核工廠 - 現在開放遊客參觀，中國 816 核工廠是深埋在重慶山底下，於冷戰時期生產原料鈽及武器的廢棄工廠。 Nuclear backdrop – Visitors first enter a concrete cavern the size of a football field. Walls display images of atomic weapons, plutonium processing and a fiery orange atomic mushroom cloud 核能的背景 - 遊客首先會進入猶如足球場大的混凝土洞穴。牆上展示著許多圖片，包含原子武器、原料鈽生產及橘色炙熱的原子蕈狀雲。 Radioactive hues – Avant-garde green lighting in several areas highlights where radioactive processing occurred. Anything that might have been radioactive is encased in protective glass 輻射般的色調 - 前衛的綠色光束打在各處，凸顯出輻射處理的過程。任何可能有輻射的東西都封在防護玻璃裡。 Reactor meters – Visitors to China 816 Nuclear Milit
繼續閱讀

Sky show: How to see the northern lights in Iceland 天空秀：要如何在冰島看到極光

圖片
(CNN) Seeing the northern lights is a pinnacle life experience. 看極光是一個巔峰的人生體驗。 And watching the ever-shifting lights flicker in the sky above mountains, glaciers and vast lava fields is particularly breathtaking. 而看著這 在山、冰川和廣大觀瀾湖上空中 不停變換 閃爍 的光線， 特別讓人屏息。 In Iceland, the aurora borealis attracts everyone from professional photographers to travelers that have the phenomenon on their list of things to do before they kick it. 在冰島， 極光吸引了各種人，從專家學者到攝影師到遊客，在他們來之前，他們的必看清單上都有這項特殊景觀。 You'll have the best chance of seeing the night lights when it's cold and dark outside and the aurora activity is high. 在室外很冷又很暗的時候，是你看極光的最佳時機，可以看到極光在高空中閃爍。 The cold isn't a factor but the sky has to be clear, which it usually is on extremely cold nights. 冷並不是一個影響因素， 重要的是天空必須晴朗無雲，而通常都會是在非常冷的夜晚。 The phenomenon is caused by solar winds, which push electronic particles to collide with molecules of atmospheric gases that cause an emission of bright light. 極光現象是由 太陽風，推動 電 子微粒與大氣氣體分子碰撞 ，而
繼續閱讀

French election 2017: The economic challenge 2017法國總統大選：經濟挑戰

圖片
As French voters go to the polls to elect a new president, the country's relationship with the European Union, immigration and terrorism will all be important themes. 當法國選民參加投票選出新總統時，重要的主題將會是其國家與歐盟的關係、移民和恐怖組織。 But there is always an economic context that will feature as a major consideration for many voters. 但經濟環境也總是會成為選民的主要考量。 context 上下文、景況、環境、背景、語境 And whoever eventually walks into the Elysee Palace will face some difficult, even intractable challenges. 而不管最後是誰登入愛麗舍宮，都將面臨一些困難，甚至可說是棘手的挑戰。  intractable不聽話的、倔強的、棘手的 The big picture is an economy with a high standard of living and high productivity but some persistent problems. （法國經濟）整體來說是高生活標準及高生產力的經濟，但卻有持續性的問題。 The issue that stands out is unemployment. Close to three million people who want to work and are looking for a job don't have one. The unemployment rate is 10%. 最引人注目的議題就是失業，有將近三百萬人有工作意願且正在尋找，卻還沒有工作，其失業率為10%。 It's not as bad as some eurozone neighbours, but it is above average for the region an
繼續閱讀