BBC随身英语:Warming to hit species hard 气候变暖将导致大量物种消失

They looked at temperature and rainfall records for the habitats in which these species now live, and mapped the areas that would remain suitable for them under different weather conditions.

The scientists projected that if no significant efforts were made to limit greenhouse gas emissions, by the year 2100 global temperatures would be 4C above pre-industrial levels. In this scenario, some 34% of animal species and 57% of plants would lose more than half of their current habitat ranges.

The impact on species will be felt more heavily in some parts of the world such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, the Amazon region and Australia.

Our society would be affected too, according to Dr Rachel Warren, from the University of East Anglia in Britain. She says: "There'll be a knock-on effect for humans because these species are important for things like water and air purification, flood control and nutrient cycling, and eco-tourism."

In spite of the conclusions to this paper, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, it is not all doom and gloom. Dr Warren says: "Swift action to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gases can prevent the biodiversity loss by reducing the amount of global warming to 2C rather than 4 degrees."

The researcher believes that this would buy time for plants and animals to adapt to the change.

If nothing is changed and the predictions of this study are confirmed, the world might look very different in a few generations.

Quiz 测验 1. Why are animals and plant species under threat?

Because of the changes global warming might cause to their habitats.

2. According to this new research, how much warmer might it get by the end of the century?

In 2100 temperatures could be 4C above pre-industrial levels.

3. What difference would a lower rise in temperature make to animal and plant species?

It would give them more time to adapt.

4. Which word means 'appropriate'?

Suitable.

5. Which expression means 'a situation that is bad and won't get better'?

Doom and gloom.

Glossary 词汇表 scenario设想，可能发生的局面 to come to a conclusion得出一个结论 rainfall records降雨量纪录 to map标划出 suitable适宜的 weather conditions天气状况 greenhouse gas emissions温室气体排放 pre-industrial工业化前的 knock-on effect连锁反应 air purification空气净化 nutrient cycling营养物循环 eco-tourism生态旅游 paper (scientific study)科研文献 doom and gloom悲观沮丧的 greenhouse gas温室气体 biodiversity生物多样性 global warming全球变暖 to buy time赢得时间 to adapt去适应