Trees, surely among the most magnificent of all living things.|树木是众多生命中的伟大一员

Some of the largest organisms on Earth, dwarfing all others|有些树是地球上最大的物种,其他生命在它面前显得相当渺小

and these are the tallest of them all.|这些是长得最高的一种树.

The deciduous and coniferous woodlands that grow in the seasonal parts of our planet|落叶林和针叶林都生长在地球上有明显季节变化的地区

are the most extensive forests on Earth.|在地球上分布最为广泛

Their sheer extent stuns the imagination.|它们的分布之广, 超出想象

行星地球10----季节性森林

The barren snows of the Arctic.|冰雪覆盖的北极地区  解说:大卫 艾登博格

A thousand miles from the North Pole and heading south.|这是距离北极点以南1000英里的地方

This is the very first place that trees can grow.|这也是树木长到的最北处

To begin with, the conifers are sparse|一开始松树比较稀疏

but soon they dominate the land.|再往南它们便马上支配了大陆

This is the taiga forest.|这就是泰加针叶林

There are as many trees here as in all the world's rainforests combined.|它的面积,是所有热带雨林面积的总和

The taiga circles the globe and contains a third of all the trees on Earth.|针叶林环球分布,占全球所有树木总量的三分之一

It produces so much oxygen that it refreshes the atmosphere of the entire planet.|它制造了大量的氧气.是我们这个地球的空气清新剂

At the taiga's northern extent|在针叶林的北部区域

the growing season can last for just one month a year.|树木的一年内的生长时节只有1个月

It can take 50 years for a tree to get bigger than a seedling.|一棵树从秧苗到成年需要50年的时间

It's a silent world where little stirs.|除了偶有动静,这里万籁俱寂

But there are occasional signs of life|即使在满是冰雪的童话世界中

stories written in the snow.|也有非常特别的生命

The prints of an Arctic fox and the hare it might have been stalking.|北极狐追捕野兔的脚印

A female polar bear|这是雌性北极熊

and her two cubs.|和她的2个孩子的脚印

Some animals are so difficult to glimpse|有些动物难得一见

that they're like spirits.|如幽灵般

0ne could live a lifetime in these woods|你可能在森林里呆一辈子

and never see a lynx.|也不会见到一只猞猁

The cat must roam hundreds of miles in search of prey|这只猫(猞猁属于猫科的一种)为寻找猎物跋涉了几百英里

and may never visit the same patch of forest twice.|而且树林中同一地方它可能不会来第二次

It's the very essence of wilderness.|这是在原始森林中生存的基本

With so few prey animals here, life for a hunter is particularly hard.|猎物是如此至少,捕猎对于它们来说是极端困难

Creatures are scarce because few can eat conifer needles.|这里缺乏生物的原因是很少有生物以针叶为食

The moose is an exception.|北美驼鹿是个例外

Growth is so difficult|因为生长困难

that conifers protect their precious leaves by filling them with resin.|针叶树木用树脂来保护宝贵的叶子

That reduces water loss, but it also make them very distasteful.|以减少水分流失.这样也让针叶变得难以食用

At least the conifer's seeds are edible.|至少松果是可以食用的

But they're protected within armour-plated cones|但松果被层层装甲包围着

and it takes a specialist to reach them.|还是有破甲专家可以吃到

The crossbill's extraordinary beak can prise apart the scales|交喙鸟用非常特别的喙分开松果的鳞片

so that its tongue can extract the seeds.|然后用舌头来卷取种子

Birds are fortunate.|鸟类是幸福的.

When the seasonal crop is gathered, they can fly south.|当收获季节结束时, 它们可以向南方飞去

But one animal is so expert at survival in this frozen forest|不过有一种动物是在这个冰雪森林中生存的专家

that it stays here and is active all year long.|所以它可以终生在这里活动

In local folklore, the wolverine is a link to the spirit world|当地传说狼獾是人跟灵界的连系

and a cross between a bear and a wolf.|而且是狼跟熊的混血儿

In reality, it's a huge weasel.|实际上,它不过是最大的鼬科动物罢了

Its bulk helps to conserve body heat and also broadens its menu.|它的体型有利于帮助保持体内热量和扩充食物来源

It's so big and powerful, it can even bring down an adult caribou.|它大而强壮,甚至可以干掉一头成年北美驯鹿

For its size, it's said that the animal can eat more in one sitting than any other.|据说它每一餐的食量是同体型动物的一倍半

Which is why it's also known as the glutton.|可以被认为是暴食型动物

Being gluttonous here is a very effective strategy.|在这种环境下,暴食不失为一种有效策略

It's wise to eat all you can when you can.|能吃多少就吃多少

And when even a glutton can't eat more|当吃不下的时候

it stores what's left for later in the surrounding deep freeze.|就把食物储存起来, 以应付酷寒的到来

Spring in the ice forest.|冰雪森林的春天

The capercaillie can also digest conifer needles.|北欧雷鸟也吃针叶林的针叶

But feeding is not its priority at the moment.|不过此时它还没有享用的优先权

Like gladiators, the males square up for a battle.|如同角斗士,雄鸡们为战斗摆好了架势

Each may have just a single chance to impress a female.|只有一个机会来取得雌鸟的芳心

Neither can afford a lapse in concentration.|必须全神贯注,不能失败

The injured loser may not survive.|受伤的雷鸟不会活下来

The inhabitants of this great wilderness|这片广阔森林的居民们

may live and die without ever having contact with humanity.|可以不受人类干扰,自由生存和死亡

Long may it be that way.|希望永远如此

The northern forests may be the largest on Earth|地球北部的森林可能地球上最大的森林了

but to see coniferous trees that have reached their full potential|不过想要一览针叶林的全貌

you must travel 1,000 miles south of here.|你要还要再向南走1000英里

The Pacific coast of North America.|北美洲,太平洋沿岸

The land of hemlock, Douglas fir and giant redwood.|铁杉,花旗松,巨杉

Here water is never locked up in ice.|这里,水再也不会冰封

And even if rains fail|即使不下雨

the needles can extract moisture from the fogs that roll in from the sea.|针叶也可以从海上蜂拥而来的水雾中汲取水分

The sun's energy powers these forests|太阳给森林带来的生长能量

not for one month as it does in the taiga|不是北极的一个月

but for half the year.|而是半年

These conifers grow at ten times the rate of those near the Arctic|这些树木的生长速度是北极圈附近树木的10倍

and they live for thousands of years.|寿命更可达数千年

0ne grove of redwoods in California|加利福尼亚的这块红杉林

contains three of the tallest trees on Earth.|世界树木高度排行前三名的树都在这里

This one is over 1 00 metres high, the size of a 30-storey building.|这颗超过100米的树有30层楼房那么高

These forests were growing here long before humans walked the Earth.|这片森林远在人类直立行走之前就出现了

They were in their prime 20 million years ago|2000万年前它们就已经在这里

and existed before the Swiss Alps or the Rocky Mountains were even raised.|甚至比阿尔卑斯山(欧洲) 和洛基山脉(美洲最长的山脉)隆起的时间还要早

There is more living matter in a forest of giant conifers|巨大针叶林里的有机物质

than in any tropical rainforest.|比热带雨林来 要多的多

But it's all contained within the trees.|但是都在大树里

These are as inedible as those in the taiga.|针叶依然如北极针叶林那样难吃

So animals are still scarce|所以动物仍然稀少

but they are present.|还是有意外的惊喜

A pine marten.|松貂

It's spring, the best time of year for a marten to find food.|春天,是松貂找食的最佳时节

Birds' eggs are a seasonal snack and for a short time there's plenty of them.|鸟卵是季节性的美餐, 虽然数量众多, 只是不能长时间享受

Sometimes perhaps too many.|有时候可能是…太多了

But to live here permanently, the marten needs a more reliable food source.|要在这里常住,松貂就需要稳定的食物来源

Squirrels fit the bill.|松鼠就是

They thrive here on the pine cones|松鼠以松果为食

and although these are also seasonal, they can be stored and eaten throughout the year.|虽然松果是季节性生长的 但可以贮藏起来吃一整年

The squirrels are busy mating.|松鼠忙着交配

Good news for the hunter. A distracted squirrel is a vulnerable squirrel.|这是猎人的好消息 心烦意乱的松鼠,就十分容易被抓住了

But this time the amorous couple are safe.|不过,这对情意绵绵的情侣十分安全

There is a loner stocking his larder who will be the easier target.|有一只正在他的储藏室里美餐的松鼠,是更容易捕捉的目标

Early summer and great grey owl chicks are fledging.|早夏,乌林鸮的孩子刚刚长大

Adults can only raise young here|成鸟能在这里养育小宝宝

in years when the seasonal vole crop is big enough to support them.|表示今年的田鼠够多可以养活它们

The moment has arrived for their first flight.|小乌林鸮的第一次飞行时间到了

Leaping from the world's tallest trees is not for the faint-hearted.|要从世界上最高的树木上跳下,可不能恐高

If you're going to fall here, it's quite a good idea to do it in stages.|想要从这里落下,分阶段进行不失为一种好方法

The ground is no place for an owl.|地面对乌林鸮来说只是个落脚点

If he's to climb to the top of his class, he'll need to persevere.|想要在班上名列前矛,必须有毅力

So now, let's have another go.|现在,可以再来一次了

The American conifer forests|美洲的针叶林

may not be the richest in animal life|可能不是动物的乐园

but their trees are extraordinary.|但这些树木非常特别

This giant sequoia, a relative of the redwood, is the largest living thing on Earth.|这些美洲杉是红杉的亲戚,也是世界上最大的生物

Known as General Sherman, it's the weight of ten blue whales.|谢尔曼将军树有十头蓝鲸那么重

Higher up in the nearby mountains, bristlecone pines.|附近的高山上, 狐尾松

The oldest organisms on the planet.|是地球上最长寿的生物

Some have been here for 5,000 years.|有的在这里已经待了5000年

They were alive before the pyramids were built|它们在金字塔建造之前就发芽了

and were already 3,000 years old when Christ was born.|耶稣诞生的时候它们已经活了3000年

Across the equator in the southern hemisphere, there are forests that mirror those of the north.|穿越赤道来到南半球 这里的森林如同北半球的翻版

Here in South America, araucaria trees, or monkey puzzles, are like the conifers of the taiga.|这是南美洲, 绰号叫“猴子谜”的南洋杉看上去和极地针叶林没什么两样

They have waterproof scales instead of needles and their cones look a little different,|它们用防水的鳞片代替了针叶.球果也有些不同

but the principles are the same.|不过它们在本质上还是一样的

Slender-billed parakeets rather than crossbills extract their seeds.|尖嘴锥尾鹦鹉和交喙鸟来一样啄出种籽取食

Where the growing season is longer, there are alerce trees, the redwoods of the south.|由于更长的生长季节, 南半球也有红杉-智利柏树

As in the frozen north|难道如同寒冷的北极

the Valdivian forests of Chile support very few animals.|巴尔第毕亚温带森林只有很少的动物?

But that is the end of the similarity.|这种相似性在这里是不存在的

This is a bizarre world of miniature creatures.|这里是小动物的奇异世界

The pudu, the world's smallest deer, feeds on the giant leaves of the gunnera plant.|智利普度鹿, 世界上最小的鹿之一,正在吃根乃拉草的大叶子

The female is just 30 centimetres high at the shoulder|雌鹿肩高仅仅30厘米高

and her infants are hardly bigger than kittens.|她的孩子不比小猫大多少

The male must stay alert.|妈妈必须保持警惕

There are hunters here who would snatch his young.|猎人正在觑觎着孩子

Another miniature, the kodkod cat.|另一种小动物--南美林猫

It's the smallest cat in all the Americas and a young pudu would be a feast for it.|对于这种美洲最小的猫科动物来说,小普度鹿无疑是它的美餐

But with the male on guard, the kodkod must lower his sights.|由于母鹿在警戒着,南美林猫只好放弃

Moths are hatching.|飞蛾正在孵化

They're the last of the summer.|今年夏天最后一批

The tiny cat should be able to score with these.|小猫应该可以抓到它们

No one knows why the creatures here are so small|没人知道为什么这里的动物这么小

but at least they can survive on meagre rations.|至少它们可以在这个贫瘠的地方存活

You might call this a game of cat and moth.|你可以称这个游戏为:猫抓飞蛾

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As winter approaches in Chile|冬季逼近智利

spring is arriving in the northern hemisphere.|北半球的春天却来了

These are the deciduous forests of home.|这是我家乡的落叶林

Dormant throughout the winter|从冬天苏醒后

they now undergo one of the most magical transformations in the natural world.|它们开始了自然界最神奇的转变

By late spring, the landscape is wrapped in a vibrant fresh green.|到了晚春, 大地一片翠绿, 风景如画

Here, instead of conifers, there are broad-leaved trees|阔叶林代替针叶林

and that makes the character of this forest entirely different.|同时也展现了完全不同的世界

Being broad, these leaves trap much more light than needles.|不仅叶子能比针叶吸收更多阳光

But they're also thin, soft and edible.|而且叶子更薄,更软,更好吃

And others can eat the leaf-eaters.|螳螂捕蝉,黄雀在后

It's spring in the great broad-leaved forests of Eastern Europe and Asiatic Russia.|这是跨越东欧-亚洲-俄罗斯的 世界上最大的落叶阔叶林的春天

The mandarin ducks are calling.|鸳鸯正在示爱

The female mandarin nests in a tree hole.|雌鸳鸯在树上筑巢

And when it's time for everyone to leave, she leads the way.|她正在带着所有的宝宝们离开巢穴

The ducklings are only 24 hours old.|小鸳鸯才24个小时大

It's a long drop and a few calls of encouragement are required.|要让它们从这么高的地方落下,妈妈鼓励的叫声是必须的

(SQUAWKING)

Two down, seven to go.|2只降落, 还有7只

There are still two missing.|还少着2只

All present and correct.|如数到齐

But they won't be safe until they reach water.|在赶到水中之前它们还很不安全

And the forest pool is almost a mile away.|林中的池塘还有1英里远呢

By june, the days are at their longest|6月是白昼最长的时候

and all across the northern hemisphere the broadleaves are hard at work.|所有北半球的阔叶树木努力生长

0n the east coast of North America|在北美洲的东部

it seems like any other summer's evening.|这里的夏日傍晚和其他地方一样

But tonight is special.|不过今晚非常特别

After 17 years underground|在17年的地下潜伏后

creatures are stirring.|一种生物开始活跃起来

The nymphs of the periodical cicada have been biding their time.|布鲁德X蝉(一种周期蝉)的若虫为这个机会等待了很长时间

Now they march like zombies towards the nearest tree and start to climb.|现在它们如朝圣般向最近的树进军 并开始攀爬

At first there are merely thousands.|一开始,不过几千只

But soon more than a billion swarm all over the forest.|马上  10亿只若虫爬满了整个森林

The biggest insect emergence on the planet is underway.|地球上最大规模的昆虫羽化就要开始了

占据上端的树枝后,若虫开始进行They invade the upper branches where they climb out of their external skeletons

and assume their adult winged form.|转变到蝉的蜕皮动作

At first, they're white and soft.|一开始它们又白又软

But they have until dawn to complete their transformation.|直到黎明它们才完全转化完毕

After an absence of 17 years, the forest is now overrun by cicadas.|在17年的缺席之后 森林中的蝉泛滥成灾

The adults are clumsy and very edible.|成年蝉不仅笨拙而且非常美味

For turtles and other inhabitants of the forest,|对于龟和其他森林居民来说,

this is a feast they're lucky to see once in their lifetime|可能再也没有运气能这样狼吞虎咽

and they gorge themselves while they can.|大快朵颐

Times have never been so good.|美好时光！

The cicadas have no defences and virtually offer themselves to their attackers.|蝉毫无防卫而且好像是  把自己送上门供享用

The stream of insects is so relentless|这种昆虫川流不息的出现

that soon all the predators are full to the point of bursting.|使得捕食者数量很快就暴涨

And still the cicadas come.|仍然有大量的蝉赶来

With the predators overwhelmed, the survivors can achieve their purpose.|当捕食者达到饱和,存活的蝉也在完成它们的使命

After mating, the adults lay their eggs and then their job is done.|成蝉在交配完并产卵后,它们的工作也完成了

In just a few days they will all die and the forest will fall silent.|几天的时间内他们全将死去,森林又会恢复平静

The cicadas here will not be heard again for another 1 7 years.|在接下来的17年里,不会再听到布鲁德蝉的声音了

Having fed the predators, the cicadas leave one final gift for the forest itself.|喂饱了掠食者后, 蝉给森林留下了最后的礼物

The nutrients in a generation of cicadas are returned to the soil all at once.|这些蝉给土壤提供了大量养分

And the trees enjoy a marked spurt in growth.|树木也可以享受疯长的乐趣

This may be the single largest dose of fertiliser in the natural world.|这可能是自然界最大剂量的一只营养针

In the great broadleaf forests of Eastern Europe,|在东欧的大片落叶阔叶林那边

the days are beginning to shorten|白昼开始缩短

and a primeval sound heralds the onset of autumn.|一声富有攻击力的原始声音在宣布秋天的到来

(DEER BELL0WING)

Male red deer are starting their rut.|雄性马鹿正在按惯例行事

The air is heavy with the scent of females.|空气中弥漫着雌马鹿的气味

The rules are simple|规则很简单

winner takes all.|胜利者取得一切

Across the northern hemisphere|环绕整个北半球

the deciduous forests are changing.|可以看到落叶林在不断变化

Leaves that have provided food and shelter since the spring, are now shed.|从春天开始提供给动物食物和掩护的树叶,开始脱落了

In the broadleaf forests of Russia|在俄罗斯

winter is particularly severe.|落叶林的冬天是严酷的

But there will always be some who benefit from hardship.|但总是有一些动物从中获益

Black vultures scavenge from the carcass of a seka deer|黑秃鹫寻找死去和饿死的鹿

that has died of cold or starvation.|以它们的腐肉为食

These endangered birds are visitors|这些濒临灭绝的鸟儿

they've come down from the north to escape the even colder conditions in Siberia.|从更加寒冷的西伯利亚来访

An Amur leopard|一只远东豹

the rarest cat on Earth.|世界上最稀少的猫科动物

Winter is a difficult time for this hunter.|冬天对这个动物来说相当难熬

There are no leaves for cover and no young prey animals.|没有树叶可以掩护,没有幼小的猎物

This female has the added pressure of having to provide for her one-year-old cub.|这只雌豹因为要抚养她的一岁大的孩子而担负着更大的压力

It will be another 12 months before he'll be able to fend for himself.|还得再过一年,小豹才能照顾自己

The bickering vultures have abandoned the carcass.|秃鹫的叫声说明它们放弃了那块畜体

It's a valuable discovery for the leopards.|对于豹子来说这是重要的发现

But the cub doesn't share its mother's sense of urgency.|小豹却不知道她妈妈着急的心情

The vultures have left behind plenty of good meat|秃鹫虽然留下了这块上好的肉

but it's stiff with frost.|不过这块肉冻得太硬了

The mother works to open the hide and make feeding a little easier for her cub.|母豹撕开兽皮,好让她的小豹吃起来容易点

There are only 40 Amur leopards left in the wild|目前仅有40只左右的远东豹

and that number is still falling.|而且它的数量还在减少

The harshness of the winter here, hinders their increase in numbers.|严酷的冬天阻碍了这个种群数量的增长

It takes one of these females longer to raise her young to independence|母豹养大她的孩子成人所花的时间

than it does a leopard in Africa.|比起非洲豹来, 要长很多

If the mother can sustain her cub for a few more weeks|如果母豹能和小豹多坚持几个星期

spring will bring an increase in prey and her task will lighten.|等到春天随着食物的回升, 母豹的任务也会变得轻松一些

For all the inhabitants of this seasonal forest|对于这个季相林的所有居民来说

the long, cold wait is nearly over.|漫长寒冷的冬天即将过去

Spring in a deciduous woodland is special.|春天的落叶林是很特别的

With no leaves overhead, the rays of the sun strike the forest floor directly|由于没有树叶遮蔽,阳光可以直射到森林地表上

and their warmth rouses plants from their winter sleep.|这种温暖让植物们从冬眠中苏醒过来

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

The ground-living plants are in a hurry.|地表植物正在匆忙生长

Before long, the trees above will come into leaf and steal their light.|不久之后, 树木长出的新叶将会重新把阳光夺去

Their flowers decorate the forest floor|花, 是森林地表的天然装饰.

as they advertise their sweet nectar to the newly emerged insects.|它们以花蜜为广告,来吸引新生的昆虫

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The spring blooms of the deciduous woodlands have no equivalent|春--使落叶林、针叶林、雨林

in either the great conifer forests or the tropical jungles.|没有任何相似性

Within a matter of weeks, the canopy has closed|再过几个星期, 树冠层重新遮蔽天空

and only a few wheeling shafts of light penetrate the woodland.|透到地面的只有丝丝缕缕的阳光

In the tree tops, the broad leaves rapidly expand to their full size|在树梢, 树叶很快生长开来

to make the most of summer while it lasts.|并保持这个状态一直到夏末

Then, after a few months, the days begin to shorten again|几个月后, 白昼又开始缩短

and the trees must shut down and shed their leaves|树木开始减缓代谢, 树叶开始凋零

in preparation for the cold, dark time ahead.|以准备迎接寒冬的到来

Great tracts of North America flush red as the season progresses.|随着季节的变换,北美的大片地域万山红遍,层林尽染

The effect is so spectacular and so extensive|这种壮观的景象发生的地域之广

that it can be seen from space.|甚至可以在太空中看到

The threat of winter frost is not the only reason for trees to shed leaves.|寒冬的威胁不是树木落叶的唯一原因

These forests stand in the tropics.|这片森林在热带地区

Here, day length never changes.|在这里白昼没有变化

But the dry season is so severe|在炎热干燥的季节

that the trees can't afford to lose the amount of water|树木无法承受水分

that would evaporate from their broad leaves|从叶子上的大量流失

so the leaves must be shed|所以, 必须落叶

The forest resembles a European woodland in midwinter|这片森林看上去和冬季欧洲的森林相似

but the heat is overpowering and its inhabitants unfamiliar.|但是这里的酷热让人无法承受,动物也不为人熟悉

For the creatures of India's teak forests|对于印度的这个柚木林的动物们来说

these are desperate times.|这是让人绝望的时刻

But salvation is at hand.|不过救命稻草就在附近

The mahua tree is about to bloom.|山榄正在开花

Its flowers are full of liquid, making them irresistible.|多汁的花让动物们疯狂

The mahua is an oasis in a hot, dry desert.|山榄对于它们来讲就是沙漠中的绿洲

Those that fly or climb are not the only ones to get a share.|这些花也不是只给会飞的和会爬树的享用

Chital deer follow the Langur monkeys, collecting the flowers that fall.|白斑鹿跟随着长尾叶猴, 收集掉下的花

The monkeys welcome the deer, for deer are unrivalled at spotting predators.|叶猴对白斑鹿的到来表示欢迎, 因为鹿可以帮助侦察掠食者

If they are relaxed, it must be safe to come down to the ground|如果白斑鹿显得无拘无束

and gather the food that lies there.|那么叶猴可以安心从地面上采集食物

But it's not wise to travel far from the sentinels.|不过远离哨兵是不明智的

Tropical Madagascar, the wet season.|马达加斯加岛(非洲)的热带地区 湿季

It's now that the baobab trees re-grow their leaves|现在波巴布树长出了新叶

and collect water to store in their huge trunks ready for the dry season ahead.|用来收集水分并储存到巨大的躯干中,用以对付干季的到来

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

The prehistoric shape of these trees is rightly famous|波巴布树的外形已经相当被人们熟悉了

but few have ever witnessed the baobab's real magic.|但是很少有人能看到波巴布树的真正魔力

For that happens at night and high in the tree tops.|这发生在夜晚, 波巴布树的树顶

Flush with water, the baobab prepares itself for an unforgettable display.|在水的作用下 波巴布树正在准备一场让人终生难忘的演出

0nce started, the foot-long flowers can open fully in less than a minute.|长长的花可以在1分钟之内完全展开…

As the flowers open, the creatures of the forest wake.|当花开的时候,动物们也被唤醒了

The mouse lemurs have been hibernating throughout the dry season.|鼠狐猴从干季的冬眠中醒来

With the return of rains, it's time to get busy.|雨季来临时,它们就开始忙碌了

A dozen share this tree-hole, but there's plenty of room.|12只鼠狐猴同居此洞. 对于这种巴掌大小的

The world's smallest primate is no bigger than your hand.|世界上最小的灵长类动物来说来讲空间足够了

High in the branches above, the baobab's nectar is starting to flow.|高处的波巴布树已经开始分泌花蜜了

A drink of this sugary, energy-packed liquid|饮用这些高糖高能的花蜜

is an ideal way for the lemurs to start their day.|对狐猴来讲是美好一天的开始

Liquid oozes from the flower's centre and trickles down the petals.|花蜜从花中央渗出 流到花瓣上

But the nectar is not intended for lemurs.|不过花蜜不是只留给狐猴的

These giant hawk moths are the drinkers the tree needs to attract.|这些大天蛾才是树木想要吸引的

As they sip, moving from tree to tree|当它们在树与树之间采蜜的时候

so they transfer pollen and fertilise the flowers.|也给树完成了传精授粉

Nectar was an excellent first course for lemurs|花蜜是鼠狐猴的美妙的饭前点心

but moths are the main dish.|飞蛾才是正餐

The moths are very important to the lemurs|飞蛾对狐猴相当重要

for they will replenish the fat reserves|飞蛾是狐猴重要的脂肪来源

that the lemurs need to survive the barren dry season.|也是是狐猴挺过干季的食物

The lemurs might seem to be a pest for the baobab,|鼠狐猴好像对波巴布树来说是害虫

they kill its pollinators and rob it of its nectar but they do give something in return.|它们杀死授粉者又抢夺花蜜, 不过鼠狐猴的确对树木有所回报

For as they wrestle with the moths, their fur inevitably becomes dusted with pollen.|因为,当狐猴捕捉飞蛾的时候, 它们的毛皮不可避免的会沾上花粉

So they too become pollinators.|所以,它们也成了授粉者

As the alternation of wet and dry seasons brings change to some tropical forests,|干季雨季的交替变换给热带的树木带来了变化

so the progression of summer to winter dictates life in more temperate regions.|从夏季到冬季的变换也决定了温带地区的生物物种

Whether trees have needles or broad leaves|不管树木是针叶还是阔叶

it is their ability to survive annual change|它们这种在季节变化生存的本领

that has enabled them to cover such vast areas of the Earth|使得季相林覆盖了地球上大片的地方

and made the seasonal forests the greatest forests of all.|也使季相林变得最为伟大