科學家每年發(fā)現(xiàn)的新物種不計其數(shù),新物種要想一炮走紅,為世人所熟知,最佳捷徑莫過于利用“名人效應(yīng)”。下面我們一起來認識一下這些自然界的新“名人”吧!
What do Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Kate Winslet have in common? All three have had new species named after them. Every year, scientists recognize 15,000 new species—each one needs a new name. With so many species, scientists are bound1) to turn to popular culture for inspiration. Here, we've compiled a list of famous people and the often quirky2) species named after them.
巴拉克·奧巴馬、喬治·W·布什和凱特·溫斯萊特有什么共同之處呢?他們?nèi)齻€人都有以自己的名字命名的新物種。每年,科學家們都會發(fā)現(xiàn)1.5萬個新物種——每個新物種都需要一個新名稱。物種數(shù)量這么多,科學家們必然會轉(zhuǎn)向流行文化,從中尋找靈感。在此,我們匯集了一些名人以及用他們的名字命名的物種,這些物種通常都比較古怪。
Caloplaca Obamae 橙衣屬奧巴馬地衣
The current US president Barack Obama's namesake3) is an orange-colored lichen4). Discovered in California, the lichen was named in March, 2009. Kerry Knudsen, the lichen curator5) in the University of California, Riverside Herbarium, picked the name to \"show my appreciation for the president's support of science and science education.\"
以美國現(xiàn)任總統(tǒng)巴拉克·奧巴馬的名字命名的是一種橙色地衣。人們在加利福尼亞州發(fā)現(xiàn)了這種地衣,并于2009年3月為其命名。加利福尼亞大學河畔植物標本室的地衣館館長凱麗·克努森挑選了這個名字:“以此表達我對總統(tǒng)支持科學及科學教育的感謝。”
Agathidium Bushi, Agathidium Cheneyi and Agathidium Rumsfeldi
布什甲蟲、切尼甲蟲和拉姆斯菲爾德甲蟲
All three members of the former administration, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, have a slime mold6) beetle named in their honor. Quentin Wheeler is responsible for this choice, which was meant as a compliment7). Wheeler said President Bush called to thank him for the gesture.
喬治·W·布什、迪克·切尼和唐納德·拉姆斯菲爾德這三位前政府官員都有以自己的名字命名的黏菌甲蟲。昆廷·惠勒為這三個物種選擇了這三個名字,以對這三位名人表示敬意?;堇照f,布什總統(tǒng)還專門為此來電表示感謝。
Sylvilagus Palustris Hefneri 赫夫納濕地兔
Scientists named the Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit8), found in the southeastern United States, after Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy. Hefner's organization has donated money to support research about the endangered \"bunnies.\"
科學家用《花花公子》雜志創(chuàng)辦人休·赫夫納的名字來為在美國東南部發(fā)現(xiàn)的一種佛羅里達濕地兔命名。赫夫納的公司還捐款支持研究這種瀕臨滅絕的“小兔子”。
Agra Katewinsletae 凱特·溫斯萊特步行蟲
This ground beetle9) species is named after Kate Winslet because of her role in the film Titanic. The scientific paper describing the beetle said, \"Her character did not go down with the ship, but we will not be able to say the same for this elegant10) species, if all the rain forest is converted11) to pastures12).\"
由于凱特·溫斯萊特在電影《泰坦尼克號》中扮演的角色,這種步行蟲物種便以她的名字來命名。有關(guān)這種甲蟲的科學論文這樣寫道:“她的角色沒有隨船沉沒,但如果所有的熱帶雨林都變成牧場的話,我們將不能保證這種好物種也不會‘沉沒’?!?/p>
Pheidole Harrisonfordi (Ant) and Calponia Harrisonfordi (Spider)
哈里森·福特蜘蛛和哈里森·福特螞蟻
Two types of insects bear13) the actor Harrison Ford's name. Scientists named a spider species after the actor to thank him for narrating a documentary for the London Museum of Natural History. The ant species was named after Ford to honor his conservation work.
有兩類昆蟲是以演員哈里森·福特的名字來命名的??茖W家用這位演員的名字命名了一種蜘蛛,以感謝他為倫敦自然歷史博物館的一部紀錄片解說。而用福特的名字來為一類螞蟻物種命名,則是向他為保護動物所做的工作致敬。
Phialella Zappai (Jellyfish), Pachygnatha Zappa (Spider), Zappa, a Genus14) of Gobiidae (Fish)
扎帕水母、扎帕蜘蛛和扎帕蝦虎魚
Guitarist, free-speech advocate15) and prolific16) song writer Frank Zappa is a popular inspiration for a number of species' names. In 1987, a scientist named a species of jellyfish after Zappa because he wanted to meet the artist (and his plan worked). Next, scientists named an entire genus of goby17) fish after the musician, followed by an orb-weaver spider (whose black markings reminded the researchers of Zappa's signature mustache).
弗蘭克·扎帕集吉他手、自由言論倡導(dǎo)者和高產(chǎn)作曲家三種身份于一身,而他的名字為許多物種命名提供了靈感,很受歡迎。1987年,一名科學家為一種水母起名為扎帕,因為他想認識這位藝術(shù)家(他的計劃確實成功了)。接下來,其他科學家又用這位音樂家的名字為整個蝦虎魚屬命名;緊隨其后的是一種構(gòu)織環(huán)形蛛網(wǎng)的蜘蛛(這種蜘蛛的黑色斑紋讓研究人員想起扎帕標志性的胡子)。
Vocabulary
1.bound [baund] adj. 一定的,必然的;注定了的
2.quirky [5kw\\:kI] adj. (行為、性格、外貌)古怪的
3.namesake [5neImseIk] n. 以他人的名字取名的人;同名(或同姓、同姓名的人);同名物
4.lichen [5laIkEn] n. 【植】地衣
5.curator [7kjuE5reitE(r)] n. (博物館、圖書館、美術(shù)館、展覽館等的)館長,主任;(動物園的)園長
6.slime mold: 【植】黏菌
7.compliment [5kCmplImEnt] n. 敬意
8.Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit: 佛羅里達濕地兔;marsh [mB:F] n. 沼澤地
9.ground beetle: 【昆】步行蟲;步甲;擬步甲
10.elegant [5elI^Ent] adj. <口>上等的,好的
11.convert [kEn5vE:t] vt. 使轉(zhuǎn)變,使轉(zhuǎn)化
12.pasture [5pB:stFE(r)] n. 牧草地;牧場;聚食地
13.bear [bZE] vt. 帶有;具有;擁有
14.genus [5dVi:nEs] n. 類,種類
15.advocate [5AdvEkIt] n. 擁護者,提倡者
16.prolific [prEu5lIfIk] adj. 富于創(chuàng)造力的;(作品或成果)豐富的,<喻>多產(chǎn)的
17.goby [5^EubI] n. 【魚】蝦虎魚