The Amazon Rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world.
亞馬遜熱帶雨林是世界上最大的熱帶雨林。
This extraordinary tropical jungle is roughly the same size as 48 states in the U.S. The Amazon surrounds the Amazon River and its many tributaries.
這片非凡的熱帶雨林的占地面積大約相當(dāng)于美國的48個(gè)州，并由亞馬遜河及其許多支流環(huán)繞。
The Amazon River is the largest river in the world by volume discharged.
亞馬遜河是世界上流量最大的河流。
It stretches an astounding 4,225 miles—from the peaks of the Peruvian Andes to the beautiful beaches of Brazil.
它從秘魯安第斯山脈的頂峰延伸到巴西的美麗海灘，綿延4225英里，令人驚嘆。
Scientists estimate there are 390 billion trees in the Amazon Rainforest, including over 16,000 species.
科學(xué)家估計(jì)亞馬遜雨林中有3900億棵樹，包括超過16000個(gè)物種。
If we include shrubs, climbing plants, algae, and fungi, the number of species climbs well over 40,000, but there are many more species waiting to be discovered.
如果我們算上灌木、攀緣植物、藻類和真菌，物種的數(shù)量將遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超過4萬種，但還有更多的物種等待被發(fā)現(xiàn)。
Plants, algae and fungi represent just a fraction of the Amazon's ecological diversity.
植物、藻類和真菌只是亞馬遜生態(tài)多樣性的一小部分。
The Amazon supports at least 427 mammal species, 3,000 species of freshwater fish, over 1,300 species of birds, 378 types of reptiles, and 400 species of amphibians.
亞馬遜雨林中至少有427種哺乳動物，3000種淡水魚，超過1300種鳥類，378種爬行動物和400種兩棲動物。
Notice how we didn't mention any invertebrates, like insects and arachnids?
有沒有注意到我們沒有提到任何無脊椎動物，比如昆蟲和蛛形綱動物？
That's because the Amazon's gargantuan population of invertebrate species climbs well into the millions.
這是因?yàn)閬嗰R遜龐大的無脊椎動物物種數(shù)量能有數(shù)百萬種。
And that only includes the species we've identified so far!
這還只包括我們迄今為止發(fā)現(xiàn)的物種！
But how does this gigantic ecosystem support so many diverse organisms?
那亞馬遜這個(gè)龐大的生態(tài)系統(tǒng)是如何支持如此多的生物生存呢？
Scientists conceptualize the Amazon as four ecological layers: the forest floor, the understory, the canopy and the overstory.
科學(xué)家將亞馬遜雨林分為四個(gè)生態(tài)層：雨林地表、下層植被、樹冠層和上層林冠。
Each layer plays an important role in the health and survival of the rainforest.
每一層都對雨林的健康和生存起著重要作用。
The forest floor is where the rainforest finds its humble beginnings.
雨林地表是熱帶雨林發(fā)源的渺小開端。
The roots of towering trees grow in thick, low-nutrient soil laid over a layer of volcanic rock.
參天大樹的根生長在厚厚的、低營養(yǎng)的土壤中，土壤上覆蓋著一層火山巖。
Without deep, rich soil, the forest floor's tropical vegetation depends on decomposers, like bacteria, fungi and insects.
由于沒有深厚而肥沃的土壤，雨林地表的熱帶植被依賴于分解物，如細(xì)菌，真菌和昆蟲。
These essential organisms pull nutrients from dead organic material, like leaves, wood, and animal carcasses.
這些最基本的生物從死亡的有機(jī)物質(zhì)中吸取營養(yǎng)，如樹葉、木頭和動物尸體。
Vital for nutrient cycling, vibrant mushrooms, like the scarlet cup and the veiled lady, adorn the forest floor.
對于養(yǎng)分循環(huán)至關(guān)重要的是，鮮艷的蘑菇，如緋紅肉杯菌和竹蓀，裝飾著森林的地面。
Some of these fungi are bioluminescent.
其中一些菌類是會發(fā)光的。
When the sun sets over the Amazon, these radiant mushrooms illuminate the forest floor like magical nightlights.
當(dāng)太陽從亞馬遜上空落下時(shí)，這些發(fā)光的蘑菇就像神奇的夜燈一樣照亮了森林地面。
Very little sunlight penetrates the upper layers of the rainforest, so the forest floor remains dark and damp year-round.
很少有陽光能穿透熱帶雨林的上層，所以雨林地表常年陰暗潮濕。
Low levels of light make life challenging for plant species on the forest floor, but this layer is ideal for terrestrial animals.
光照條件低導(dǎo)致地面上的植物難以生存，但這一層正是陸生動物的理想棲息地。
On the forest floor, you'll discover spectacular insects like the Assassin bug, which impales its prey with a long, sharp proboscis.
在雨林地表上，我們發(fā)現(xiàn)了一些特別的昆蟲，比如獵蝽，它們用又長又尖的長嘴刺穿獵物。
Other extraordinary insects hide in plain sight, like leaf-mimic Katydids, which disguise their tall, green bodies as rainforest vegetation.
還有一些令人驚奇的昆蟲隱匿在顯眼的地方，比如仿葉蚱蜢，它們把自己寬大的綠色身體偽裝成雨林植物。
The Amazon Rainforest is home to many of the world's largest insects and arachnids.
亞馬遜雨林棲息著許多世界上體型最大的昆蟲和蛛形綱動物。
The Titan Beetle, for example, can grow up to 6.6 inches long—that's about the size of an adult human hand.
例如，可以長到6.6英寸長的泰坦甲蟲，大約是成年人的手掌大小。
With such an astonishing population of invertebrates, there are predators a-plenty.
無脊椎動物的數(shù)量非常驚人，捕食者也非常多。
Reptiles, like iguanas, and mammals, like the Giant Anteater, feed on huge colonies of ants and termites on the forest floor.
爬行動物，如鬣蜥，哺乳動物，如巨型食蟻獸，以雨林地表上數(shù)量眾多的螞蟻和白蟻群為食。
Hanging no more than 12 feet above the forest floor, the second layer of the Amazon Rainforest is the understory.
亞馬遜雨林的第二層是離地表不超過12英尺的下層植被。
The understory is populated by small trees, shrubs, and parasitic climbing plants.
下層植被長滿了小樹、灌木和寄生的攀緣植物。
Like the forest floor, the understory is permanently shaded by a dense canopy.
和地表一樣，下層植被也被茂密的樹冠永久遮蔽。
There are only a few species of flowering plants in the understory.
下層植物中只有少數(shù)幾種開花植物。
These plants attract pollinators with large, brightly colored blooms. Though it lacks direct sunlight, the understory produces a variety of edible fruits, including mangos, lemons, and cacao pods, which are used to make chocolate.
這些植物以大朵鮮艷的花朵吸引傳粉者。雖然它們?nèi)鄙訇柟庵鄙?，但也可產(chǎn)出各種可食用的水果，包括芒果、檸檬和用來制作巧克力的可可豆莢。
The understory also houses an abundance of incredible animals.
下層植被也棲息著大量不可思議的動物。
Giant Waxy Tree Frogs live and feed on the understory's low-hanging branches.
巨型蠟樹蛙以下層植物低垂的樹枝為食。
Colonies of Vampire Bats hide in the sun-starved corners of the forest in well-structured family groups.
成群的吸血蝙蝠潛藏在森林中陽光不充足的角落里。
But one of the understory's most spectacular residents lurks in the undergrowth.
但下層植被中最厲害的居民之一潛伏在灌木叢中。
The Jaguar is the largest cat species in the Americas and an apex predator in the Amazon.
美洲虎是美洲最大的貓科動物，也是亞馬遜雨林的頂級掠食者。
Jaguars are confident swimmers with powerful jaws.
美洲虎善于游泳，擁有強(qiáng)大的咬合力。
Camouflaged amongst rainforest vegetation, these big cats hunt larger prey like deer, monkeys, and tortoises.
這種大型貓科動物偽裝在熱帶雨林植被中，捕食鹿、猴子和烏龜?shù)容^大的獵物。
Rising above the understory, the rainforest canopy is the thickest layer of vegetation in the Amazon.
雨林樹冠層高于下層植被，是亞馬遜雨林中最厚的植被層。
This labyrinth of leaves and branches shields the understory and the forest floor.
錯(cuò)綜復(fù)雜的樹葉和樹枝保護(hù)著下層植被和森林地表。
It keeps the lower layers damp and humid, while protecting them from dry winds and harsh sunlight.
它保持下層的潮濕，同時(shí)保護(hù)下層植被免受干燥的風(fēng)和刺眼的陽光。
To humans, this is the most inaccessible layer of rainforest.
對人類來說，這是雨林中最難接近的一層。
Scientists expect to discover the most species in the rainforest canopy, but exploring the canopy is a challenge all its own.
科學(xué)家們希望在雨林樹冠層中發(fā)現(xiàn)最多的物種，但探索樹冠層本身就是一個(gè)挑戰(zhàn)。
The canopy receives ample sunlight, so delicate, flowering plants grow safely inside.
樹冠吸收了充足的陽光，所以有花的植物在里面安然生長。
The canopy's flora sustains a wide variety of animal species with their flowers and fruits.
樹冠的植物群以它們的花朵和果實(shí)供養(yǎng)著各種各樣的動物。
Beyond reptiles and thousands of insect species, who could forget the canopy's most rambunctious population?
除了爬行動物和數(shù)千種昆蟲，別忘了還有樹冠層中最吵鬧的種群。
Monkeys thrive in this complex network of vegetation, where they hide from apex predators.
猴子在這個(gè)復(fù)雜的植被網(wǎng)絡(luò)中茁壯成長，在那里它們可以躲避頂端的捕食者。
Spider monkeys, Howler monkeys, Capuchins, Tamarins, and many more enjoy the canopy's fruits, nuts and seeds.
蜘蛛猴，吼猴，卷尾猴，絹毛猴，它們很多都喜歡吃樹冠的水果，堅(jiān)果和種子。
The canopy's most impressive populations wear coats of colorful feathers.
樹冠上最令人印象深刻的種群披著五顏六色的羽毛。
A majority of the Amazon's birds live in the canopy, including some of the world's rarest species.
大多數(shù)亞馬遜鳥類生活在樹冠中，包括一些世界上最稀有的物種。
The Long-billed Toucan, the Ragged Crested Hoatzin, and a variety of macaws fill the Amazon's canopy with music and color.
長嘴巨嘴鳥、粗冠巨嘴鳥和各種金剛鸚鵡用叫聲和羽毛點(diǎn)綴著亞馬遜的樹冠。
The emergent layer, also known as the overstory, is the fourth and final layer of the Amazon Rainforest.
雨林，也被稱為上層林冠，是亞馬遜雨林的第四層也是最后一層。
Trees in the overstory grow up to 200 feet tall.
上層的樹木可以長到200英尺高。
Their massive trunks penetrate the canopy into the open air, where their branches spread wide, like umbrellas hanging over the forest below.
它們粗壯的樹干穿透樹冠，伸展到天空，像傘一樣籠罩著下面的雨林。
The overstory is bright and dry, housing many large avian predators.
上層林冠的環(huán)境明亮而干燥，居住著許多大型鳥類捕食者。
Birds of prey, like eagles, owls and hawks, nest in the tallest trees, where they prey on animals in the canopy, like macaws and monkeys.
有鷹、貓頭鷹和隼等猛禽在最高的樹上筑巢，并捕食樹冠上的動物，如金剛鸚鵡和猴子。
Scientists divide the Amazon into ecological layers, but this vast habitat functions as one cohesive system.
科學(xué)家們將亞馬遜雨林劃分為不同的生態(tài)層，但這片廣闊的棲息地卻是一個(gè)完整的生態(tài)系統(tǒng)。
Each species has evolved to fill a specific niche, from the darkest corners of the forest floor to the tallest treetops, 200 feet above the ground.
每個(gè)物種都是為了填補(bǔ)特定的生態(tài)位而進(jìn)化，從雨林地表最黑暗的角落到海拔200英尺的最高樹梢。
It has taken millions of years for this ecological tapestry to grow and develop, but the Amazon is threatened now more than ever before.
這幅生態(tài)景觀花了數(shù)百萬年的時(shí)間來生長和發(fā)展，但亞馬遜現(xiàn)在受到的威脅比以往任何時(shí)候都要大。
Twenty percent of the Amazon Rainforest has already been destroyed, and deforestation rates are at a 12-year high.
亞馬遜雨林已經(jīng)有20%的面積遭到破壞，森林砍伐率達(dá)到了12年來的最高水平。
At the rate we're going, the world's greatest terrestrial ecosystem may collapse… and disappear completely.
按照這樣的速度，世界上最大的陸地生態(tài)系統(tǒng)可能會瓦解并完全消失。
If the Amazon disappears, we will see increasing deficits in local rainfall.
如果亞馬遜消失了，未來當(dāng)?shù)氐慕涤炅繉絹碓缴佟?/p>
That means drier air, savannah-like conditions, and frequent shortages of water.
這意味著空氣更加干燥，生態(tài)環(huán)境類似大草原，并且頻繁缺水。
By destroying millions of trees, an excess of carbon will also accelerate global climate change, eradicating plant and animal species around the world.
過量的碳排放還會摧毀數(shù)百萬棵樹木，加速全球氣候變化，使世界各地的動植物物種滅絕。
The Amazon Rainforest protects its millions of inhabitants, but it also preserves the health and balance of our global ecosystem.
亞馬遜雨林保護(hù)著數(shù)以百萬計(jì)的居民，同時(shí)也維護(hù)著全球生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的健康和平衡。
To the untrained eye, the Amazon is a sprawling mess of trees, vines, and strange creatures.
對于外行人來說，亞馬遜熱帶雨林由一片雜亂的樹木、藤蔓和奇怪的生物構(gòu)成。
But, if you look inside its tangled canopy, you'll discover a life-giving ecosystem unlike any in the world.
但是，如果你深入了解它糾纏的樹冠內(nèi)部，你會發(fā)現(xiàn)一個(gè)世界上獨(dú)一無二的生命生態(tài)系統(tǒng)。
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