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VOA慢速英语2021--美国鱼类和野生动物局宣布23种物种灭绝

时间:2021-10-02 08:23:43

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US Fish and Wildlife Service Declares 23 Species Extinct

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has identified 23 species it says are now extinct.

The agency released a list Wednesday that includes 11 birds, eight freshwater mussels, two species of fish, a bat and a plant. Most of the species had been found in states in the southeastern U.S. Eleven species lived in Hawaii or Guam.

Perhaps the best known species on the list is the ivory-billed woodpecker. There had been unconfirmed sightings of the bird over the past 20 years. That led to search operations in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. But none of the woodpeckers were found.

Other species on the list had only been identified in the wild a few times and never seen again. One example is the flat pigtoe, a freshwater mussel found in Alabama and Mississippi. In such cases, the species likely started disappearing shortly after being discovered.

In declaring a species extinct, the Fish and Wildlife Service removes it from its Endangered Species Act (ESA). The purpose of the ESA is to call attention to species with the greatest need for protection.

The agency said the identifications came after officials carried out "rigorous" investigations1 based on "the best available science for each of these species." The declarations will become final after a three-month public comment period.

All 23 species were thought to have at least a small chance of survival when added to the ESA list. Only 11 species have been previously2 removed because of extinction3 in the nearly half-century since the ESA was signed into law.

The Fish and Wildlife Service warned that climate change, combined with other environmental pressures, could make such disappearances4 more common. As an example, it said nearly 3 billion birds have been lost in North America since 1970.

"These extinctions highlight the need to take action to prevent further losses," the agency said in a statement.

Around the world, about 900 species have been documented as extinct. The actual number, however, is thought to be much higher because some are never officially identified. Many scientists have warned that the planet is in an "extinction crisis," with plants and animals disappearing at 1,000 times the historical rate.

Several scientists said it was possible that one or more of the 23 species included could reappear in the future.

Cornell University bird biologist John Fitzpatrick is a leading figure in the hunt for the ivory-billed woodpecker. He told The Associated Press he thinks it was too early to declare the birds extinct. "Little is gained and much is lost" he said of the declaration process.

Fitzpatrick led a 2005 study that claimed the woodpecker had been rediscovered in eastern Arkansas. He said removing a species from the ESA reduces public attention that is needed to help continue environmental protection efforts.

Officials said the extinction declarations were driven by a desire to clear a backlog5 of suggested changes for species that had not been acted upon for years. They hope this will free up resources for more protection efforts for species that still have a chance for recovery.

Words in This Story

species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

extinct – adj. no longer existing in nature

rigorous – adj. being careful in looking at or considering every part of something

previously - adj. existing or happening before the present time

highlight – v. to emphasize something

backlog – n. an amount of work that should have been done earlier


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1 investigations 02de25420938593f7db7bd4052010b32     
(正式的)调查( investigation的名词复数 ); 侦查; 科学研究; 学术研究
参考例句:
  • His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查,但没有发现什么。
  • He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。
2 previously bkzzzC     
adv.以前,先前(地)
参考例句:
  • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
  • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
3 extinction sPwzP     
n.熄灭,消亡,消灭,灭绝,绝种
参考例句:
  • The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
  • The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。
4 disappearances d9611c526014ee4771dbf9da7b347063     
n.消失( disappearance的名词复数 );丢失;失踪;失踪案
参考例句:
  • Most disappearances are the result of the terrorist activity. 大多数的失踪案都是恐怖分子造成的。 来自辞典例句
  • The espionage, the betrayals, the arrests, the tortures, the executions, the disappearances will never cease. 间谍活动、叛党卖国、逮捕拷打、处决灭迹,这种事情永远不会完。 来自英汉文学
5 backlog bPiyc     
n.积压未办之事
参考例句:
  • It will take a month to clear the backlog of work.要花一个月的时间才能清理完积压的工作。
  • Investment is needed to reduce the backlog of repairs.需要投资来減轻积压的维修工作。

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