50年內，氣候變遷可能滅絕全球最瀕危貓科動物「伊比利亞猞猁」，即使全球達到其抑制碳排放的目標亦然，生物學家指出。
The gloomy forecast, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, says that without a dramatic shift in conservative strategy, the charismatic little wildcat seems doomed.
這個發表在「自然氣象變遷」期刊的陰鬱預測表示，若不劇烈改變保育策略，此深具魅力的小型野貓似將面臨滅絕。
The lynx grows to about a meter in length, weighs up to 15 kilos, and is characterized by its spotted beige fur, pale yellow eyes and tufted ears and cheeks.
伊比利亞猞猁可成長至1米長、15公斤重，米黃斑點皮毛、淺黃雙眼、簇狀耳朵與腮幫子是其特色。
Only around 250 of the animals live in the wild, holed up in two regions in southern Spain, the Sierra Morena and the Donana National Park, according to estimates published last year.
目前約僅250隻伊比利亞猞猁存活野地，牠們蟄居於西班牙南部的摩勒納山脈與多南納國家公園，根據去年公布的估計。
In just half a century, its range has shrunk from 40,600 square kilometers to 1,200 sq. km., driven by efforts to wipe out the rabbit, its main food, as well as poaching and fragmentation of its grassland-and-forest mixed habitat.
僅短短半世紀，在大力趕盡殺絕其主食兔子、盜獵與其草原森林混合棲地零碎化等因素驅使下，牠的分布範圍從4萬0600平方公里縮減為1200平方公里。
The new study models the impact of rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns on habitat, rabbits and lynxes. On current trends, the changes will occur too fast for the lynx to adapt, it suggests.（AFP）
這份新研究模擬出逐漸升高的溫度與不斷變遷的降雨模式對棲地、兔子與猞猁的衝擊。在當前趨勢下，這些改變對猞猁而言來得太快而無法調適，該研究認為。（法新社）
新聞辭典
wipe out︰動詞片語，徹底摧毀、消滅。例句︰The mass killing of dogs is not the way to wipe out rabies.（大量撲殺狗不是消滅狂犬病的方法。）
doomed︰形容詞，注定失敗的、天數已盡的。例句︰The regime is doomed.（該政權注定垮台。）
hole up︰動詞片語，蟄居、躲藏、留宿。例句︰I can hole up with my friend for a couple of days.（我可以暫住朋友那兒2到3天。）
文章出處：<a href="http://iservice.libertytimes.com.tw/Service/english/">自由時報電子報中英對照新聞
留言列表
