Research: Polar bears cant conserve energy during fasting 研究:北極熊無法在禁食期間保存能量

精英翻譯社轉自http://iservice.ltn.com.tw/Service/english/english.php?engno=899940&day=2015-07-22

 

◎魏國金

 

A study of an Alaska polar bear population in summer concludes the bear’s biology will not help stave off starvation in the face of global warming.

 

一項針對阿拉斯加北極熊夏季數量的研究結論指出,在面對全球暖化時,北極熊的生物學無助其抵擋飢餓。

 

The study of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears by university, federal and private researchers over three years concludes they have no special ability to minimize energy loss during increasing periods of fasting brought on by climate warming, less sea ice and fewer hunting days.

 

這項由大學、聯邦政府與民間機構研究人員對南波弗特海北極熊進行逾3年的研究指出,牠們沒有特殊能力在氣候暖化、較少海冰與較少獵捕時日導致的日益增長之禁食期間,極小化體能流失。

 

The research rejects the idea that polar bears can avoid harmful declines in body condition in a sort of "walking hibernation," as suggested by 1970s research.

 

該研究否定了1970年代研究提出的北極熊可藉由「半冬眠」形式,避免身體狀況有害衰退的觀點。

 

The paper published in the journal Science instead concludes that polar bears have no such ability to conserve energy and react like all other mammals when faced with limited food.

 

這篇發表於「科學」期刊的論文反倒結論說,當面臨有限的食物時,北極熊沒有如此能力來保存能量,並像所有其他哺乳類動物般反應。

 

Fasting is a way of life for many animals. For polar bears, fasting can last eight months.

 

對許多動物而言,禁食是一種生活方式,而北極熊禁食期可長達8個月。

 

Their main prey is ringed seals. Hunting is most successful from April to July when seals use sea ice for rearing pups and molting. In months following, ringed seals spend most of their time in water.

 

牠們主要的獵物是環斑海豹,從4月到7月當海豹利用海冰育幼與脫皮時,北極熊的獵捕最為順利。接下來數月,環斑海豹多數時間是在水中。

 

Some polar bears retreat to land, where feeding opportunities are limited, or stay on sea ice that in recent years has retreated far north of the outer continental shelf.AP

 

有些北極熊退到覓食機會有限的陸地或留在海冰上,近年海冰已退到外大陸棚的遠北地帶。(美聯社)

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