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Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class.
聽一段生物課的講座。
For today's discussion, we 'll review the case study on how some animals have behaviorally adapted to their environments.
在開始今天的討論前，我們先回顧一下關于一些動物的行為是如何適應他們環境的案例研究。
Now you had to read about two animal species, the Eastern marmot and the Olympic marmot.
現在大家來了解一下這兩類動物：東部的和奧林匹克山的土拔鼠。
Marmots are rodents.
土拔鼠屬于嚙齒動物。
They are large ground squirrels, about the size of an average house cat.
它們是大型的地松鼠，體形有一般家貓那樣大。
And they live in a variety of habitats.
它們棲息在不同的地方。
And even though they spend the significant portion of the year hibernating, according to this case study, marmots are still considered excellent subjects for animal behavioral studies.
即便是這樣，據案例研究的材料顯示它們也花相當多的時間冬眠，土拔鼠仍然被視為動物行為研究的絕佳對象。
Why is that?
為什么會這樣呢？
Well, when they are not hibernating, you can find them in open areas.
是這樣的，在非冬眠時期，你會在空曠地區看到它們。
And they are pretty active during the day, which makes them easy to observe, right?
它們白天很活躍，這樣發現它們就不是難事了，對吧？
Uh ha, so first let's discuss the Eastern marmots.
啊哈，我們首先討論一下東部的土拔鼠。
They reside throughout the eastern region of North America where there is a temperate climate, where the growing season lasts for at least five months of the year,
它們的“住所”遍布北美東部地區，這里氣候溫和，全年有五個月以上的生長期，
which is when they do all their mating, playing and eating.
在這段時間里它們會進行交配，玩耍和覓食。
Oh, I see.
哦，了解。
At first I was not sure what growing season meant, just from the reading.
一開始僅憑閱讀材料我并不知道生長期是什么意思。
But now I get it.
但我現在知道了。
It's the amount of time it takes for them to grow, right?
是它們用來生長的一段時間，對吧？
So it would be five months?
那就應該是五個月吧？
Umm?
嗯？
Oh, uh ?I 'm sorry but no. It has nothing to do with that.
哦，呃...不是的，不好意思。跟這個沒有關系。
It's not about the time it takes for Eastern marmots to grow.
不是跟東部土拔鼠用在生長的時間有關，
It's when the food is available.
而是跟什么時候有食物有關。
That is when it's not covered in snow and there is no frost covering the grass and,
那時，地上沒有冰雪覆蓋，草木也沒有結霜，
umm, vegetative parts of a plant's herbs and the flowers the marmots like to eat.
嗯，土拔鼠喜歡吃的植物嫩芽和花蕾開始生長。
So growing season refers to the availability of the food they eat, OK?
所以，生長期指的是它們所吃食物的可獲得性，是不是？
So now how would you describe the Eastern marmots ' social habits?
那么，你們如何描述東部土拔鼠的社會習性？
Well, they are really territorial, and loners, and just so aggressive even with other Eastern marmots.
它們的區域所屬感很強，而且獨來獨往，同時即便是與同類相處也表現出非常強的侵略性。
And their mating ritual is just so impersonal.
還有，它們用情并不專一。
Uh ha?
啊哈？
Now when they emerge in the spring from hibernation, the mating process begins.
春天，當它們從冬眠中醒來出來活動時，交配過程就開始了。
For them, well, they come together to mate and then they go their separate ways.
它們聚到一塊交配，隨后各奔東西。
Then about six to eight weeks after birth, the offspring leave their mothers.
產仔后的六到八周，小土拔鼠們離開鼠媽媽。
Really?
不會吧？
Just six weeks?
就六周？
Is that possible for the offspring to make it on their own so young?
鼠寶寶那么小能獨自存活嗎？
Well, it's not as if they are not ready for the real world because they are.
并不是因為它們太小而不能適應現實世界。
Remember, they mature quickly and the weather's nice.
記住，它們成熟很快，而且天氣也不錯。
Also they live in open fields where there is lots of edible vegetation.
記住，它們成熟很快，而且天氣也不錯。
So roughly six weeks after birth, Eastern marmots are just old enough to take their chances of surviving in the temperate environment.
所以，大概出生后六周，東部土拔鼠能長到足以在這溫暖的環境中一試“生”手。
So how does this relate to their behavior?
那么，這又跟它們的行為有什么關系呢？
Oh, I get it.
哦，我明白了。
Since the climate's not too bad, the Eastern marmots do not have to rely on each other too much and they really do not need to stay together as a family to survive either.
因為氣候還不錯，東部土拔鼠沒必要過于相互依賴，也沒有必要以家庭為單位而存在。
Uh ha.
啊哈。
Any contrast, the Olympic marmots?
有沒有與奧利匹斯山土拔鼠的對比？那些土拔鼠呢？
What about them?
那些土拔鼠呢？
Well, they live together as a family and take care of their young until they are at least two years old.
它們以家庭為單位過著群居生活，同時照顧幼鼠直到它們長到兩歲。
They 're really friendly with each other.
它們之間關系融洽。
And what I really like is that they even have greeting ceremonies.
我很看好的一點是它們見面還有招呼“禮節”。
And they are not at all aggressive and territorial like the Eastern marmots.
此外，它們一點都不好斗，地域所屬感也不強，這兩點跟東部土拔鼠是大相徑庭的。
So their social behavior is so different from Eastern marmots because of the climate where they live?
難道氣候造成了它們迥異的社會習性？
That seems so bizarre.
這看上去很是荒謬。
Well, the Olympic marmots inhabit meadows high in the Olympic Mountains where the weather conditions are much harsher.
事實上，奧林匹斯松土拔鼠棲息的草地在奧林匹克山脈的高地，那里的氣候條件要惡劣得多。
So there is a lot more wind and snow.
風雪也比東部多。
The growing season only lasts about two to three months.
生長期只持續兩到三月。
So in that much shorter period of time, all the Olympic marmots, male and female, eat,
在那相對短得多的時間里，所有的奧林匹斯松土拔鼠，不分雄雌，一起覓食，
play, work and nurture the young together.
玩耍，勞作和養育幼鼠。
Because the climate is so harsh, cooperation increases the survival rate of the Olympic marmots.
因為氣候惡劣，協作能提高奧林匹斯松土拔鼠的存活率。
They keep their young at home until they are physically able to survive on their own.
它們撫育幼鼠直到幼鼠能自食其力。
This could explain why the social behavior of the Olympic marmots is so unlike that of the Eastern marmots.
這能解釋為什么奧林匹斯松土拔鼠的社會習性和東部土拔鼠的(社會習性)如此不同。
