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A new study suggests changes in world climate and land use are sharply reducing the number of insects needed for pollinating crops.
一項新的研究表明，世界氣候和土地利用的變化正在使農作物授粉所需的昆蟲數量大幅減少。
The study looked at thousands of species and areas around the world.
這項研究調查了世界上數千種物種和地區。
It found that the number of pollinating insects dropped by 61 percent during periods of abnormally high temperatures and reduced supply of flowering plants.
研究發現，在異常高溫和開花植物供應量減少的時期，授粉昆蟲的數量下降了61%。
Leaders of the study noted that bees, flies, moths and other pollinators are more affected than the general insect population.
這項研究的負責人指出，蜜蜂、蒼蠅、飛蛾和其他傳粉者比普通昆蟲受到的影響更大。
Results of the research recently appeared in the publication Science Advances.
這項研究的結果最近發表在《科學進展》雜志上。
"We're seeing the climate change is already having this really strong impact on pollinators," study co-writer Tim Newbold told The Associated Press.
這項研究的合著者蒂姆·紐博爾德告訴美聯社：“我們看到氣候變化已經對傳粉者產生了非常強烈的影響。”
He is an ecologist at the University College of London.
他是倫敦大學學院的生態學家。
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates about 35 percent of world food crops and 75 percent of flowering plants depend on insects and other animal pollinators to reproduce.
美國農業部估計，世界上約35%的糧食作物和75%的開花植物依賴昆蟲和其他動物傳粉者進行繁殖。
The study found the biggest problems with pollinator loss are in the tropics – areas that sit close to Earth's equator.
該研究發現，傳粉者流失量最大的地方是熱帶地區——靠近地球赤道的地區。
The countries most at risk of crop loss from reduced pollinators include China, India, Indonesia and Brazil.
因授粉者數量減少而面臨作物損失風險最大的國家包括中國、印度、印度尼西亞和巴西。
Sub-Saharan Africa is also in danger, especially its cocoa and mango crops, the study found.
該研究發現，撒哈拉以南非洲也處于危險之中，尤其是可可和芒果。
Given the current situation, the researchers said some important tropical crops – especially coffee and cocoa – could be badly hurt.
考慮到目前的情況，研究人員表示，一些重要的熱帶作物——尤其是咖啡和可可——可能會受到嚴重損害。
Those plants depend heavily on bees and flies to help them reproduce.
這些植物嚴重依賴蜜蜂和蒼蠅來幫助它們繁殖。
Past studies have shown insect populations are decreasing for several reasons, including climate change and loss of habitat.
之前的研究表明，昆蟲數量減少的原因有幾個，其中包括氣候變化和棲息地的喪失。
Other studies have shown shrinking numbers of pollinators, with coffee and cocoa plants especially harmed by the absence.
其他研究表明，授粉者的數量正在減少，咖啡樹和可可樹因缺乏授粉者而受到的損害尤其嚴重。
Newbold, from the University College of London, said he sees a "double hit of climate change" affecting the coffee plants themselves, as well as the pollinators they depend on.
來自倫敦大學學院的紐博爾德說，他認為氣候變化對咖啡樹本身以及它們所依賴的授粉者都有影響。
This does not mean, however, that there will be no coffee or chocolate available, said the study's lead writer, Joe Millard.
然而，該研究的主要作者喬·米勒德說，這并不意味著未來將沒有咖啡或巧克力。
It will just mean buyers will have to pay more for them.
這只意味著買家將不得不為它們支付更多的錢。
Millard is a computational ecologist at the Natural History Museum in London.
米勒德是倫敦自然史博物館的計算生態學家。
University of Delaware insect expert Douglas Tallamy – who was not part of the research – said this study is unusual because it centered on the tropics, which other research has not.
特拉華大學昆蟲專家道格拉斯·塔拉米沒有參與這項研究，他說，這項研究不尋常，因為它將重點放在熱帶地區，而其他研究沒有。
"We're not paying enough attention to the tropics," Tallamy said. "They are important."
塔拉米說：“我們對熱帶地區的關注不夠，但它們卻很重要。”
Newbold noted that pollinating insects in the tropics are likely hit harder than other places because they are already near their temperature limits that place them at risk.
紐博爾德指出，熱帶地區的授粉昆蟲可能比其他地方受到的打擊更大，因為它們已經接近溫度極限，處于危險之中。
"Massive warming in the tropics is pushing those species over the edge," Newbold said.
紐博爾德說：“熱帶地區的氣溫大幅度升高正在將這些物種推向滅絕的邊緣”。
Habitat loss is the main driver for the shrinking number of pollinators because it leaves less food for them, Millard said.
米勒德說，棲息地的喪失是傳粉者數量減少的主要原因，因為這留給它們的食物越來越少。
Climate change, parasites, disease, and chemicals in the environment add to that difficulty.
氣候變化、寄生蟲、疾病和環境中的化學物質增加了這一困難。
Newbold said scientists are still trying to find out why pollinators seem to be suffering worse effects from warming temperatures than other insects.
紐博爾德說，科學家仍在試圖找出傳粉者受氣溫上升的影響似乎比其他昆蟲更嚴重的原因。
It could be because they have hairier legs and bodies that help them carry pollen, the researchers said.
研究人員表示，這可能是因為它們的腿和身體有更多的毛，這有助于它們攜帶花粉。
It is like "being forced to have a big furry coat and it's getting hot," Newbold said.
紐博爾德說，這就像“被迫穿上毛大衣，但天氣卻變得越來越熱”。
But the University of Delaware's Tallamy is not so sure.
但特拉華大學的塔拉米對此并不確定。
He said that the study's data is solid, but its explanation as to cause of impact is more of a guess.
他說，這項研究的數據是可靠的，但它對影響原因的解釋更多的是一種猜測。
I'm Bryan Lynn.
布萊恩·林恩為您播報。
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