双语新闻：墨西哥帝王蝶数量下降
The Monarch butterfly population has dropped to its second-lowest number on record in Mexican forests this winter. The forests are the insects' winter home. The population decrease is worrisome as the butterfly group is already considered at risk of disappearance.
今年冬天，在墨西哥的森林里，帝王蝶的数量已经下降到有记录以来的第二低水平。森林是昆虫的冬季家园。蝴蝶数量的减少令人担忧，因为蝴蝶种群已经被认为有灭绝的危险。
Mexico's government and the non-profit World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently issued findings of their yearly joint study on the butterflies. The research shows that the monarch butterfly presence has shrunk to less than a hectare of forest area.
墨西哥政府和非营利性的世界野生动物基金会(WWF)最近发布了他们对蝴蝶的年度联合研究结果。研究表明，帝王蝶的存在已经缩小到不到一公顷的森林面积。
In the mid-1990s, monarch butterflies could be found on around 18 hectares of the forest.
在20世纪90年代中期，帝王蝶可以在大约18公顷的森林中找到。
The findings represent an almost 60 percent decrease in the monarch butterfly population compared to last year's study. It is also the second-lowest population finding since the first study took place more than thirty years ago.
研究结果表明，与去年的研究相比，帝王蝶的数量减少了近60%。这也是自30多年前进行第一次研究以来人口数量第二低的发现。
Biologists blame the drop on higher-than-usual temperatures and dry conditions in the northwestern U.S. where the butterfly reproduces.
生物学家将这种下降归咎于蝴蝶繁殖的美国西北部比平常更高的温度和干燥的条件。
The weather conditions affect the growth of milkweed, the plant where the butterflies lay their eggs. When the young arrive, milkweed is their food for a time.
天气状况会影响马利筋的生长，马利筋是蝴蝶产卵的地方。当幼崽出生时，马利筋是它们的食物。
In one of the planet's famous wildlife migrations, the butterflies travel south as many as 4,500 kilometers from places as far north as Canada. They spend the winter in warmer Mexico, where millions of the insects stay in trees that protect them from the rain and cold.
在地球上著名的野生动物迁徙中，蝴蝶从遥远的加拿大向南迁徙了4500公里。它们在温暖的墨西哥过冬，在那里数以百万计的昆虫呆在树上，保护它们免受雨水和寒冷。
Monarch butterfly populations change year to year. As recently as 2021, the same study showed a 35 percent increase to cover around 2.8 hectares.
帝王蝶的数量每年都在变化。就在2021年，同一项研究显示，面积增加了35%，达到2.8公顷左右。
Officials and activists called for more action to help the species. Such calls include the need to reduce threats posed by herbicides that destroy milkweed and the need to protect forests.
官员和活动人士呼吁采取更多行动来帮助这一物种。这些呼吁包括需要减少除草剂对马利筋造成的威胁，以及需要保护森林。
"We can't lower our guard," Jorge Rickards, head of WWF's Mexico office, told reporters after releasing the latest data.
“我们不能放松警惕，”世界自然基金会墨西哥办事处负责人豪尔赫·里卡兹在公布最新数据后告诉记者。
今年冬天，在墨西哥的森林里，帝王蝶的数量已经下降到有记录以来的第二低水平。森林是昆虫的冬季家园。蝴蝶数量的减少令人担忧，因为蝴蝶种群已经被认为有灭绝的危险。
Mexico's government and the non-profit World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently issued findings of their yearly joint study on the butterflies. The research shows that the monarch butterfly presence has shrunk to less than a hectare of forest area.
墨西哥政府和非营利性的世界野生动物基金会(WWF)最近发布了他们对蝴蝶的年度联合研究结果。研究表明，帝王蝶的存在已经缩小到不到一公顷的森林面积。
In the mid-1990s, monarch butterflies could be found on around 18 hectares of the forest.
在20世纪90年代中期，帝王蝶可以在大约18公顷的森林中找到。
The findings represent an almost 60 percent decrease in the monarch butterfly population compared to last year's study. It is also the second-lowest population finding since the first study took place more than thirty years ago.
研究结果表明，与去年的研究相比，帝王蝶的数量减少了近60%。这也是自30多年前进行第一次研究以来人口数量第二低的发现。
Biologists blame the drop on higher-than-usual temperatures and dry conditions in the northwestern U.S. where the butterfly reproduces.
生物学家将这种下降归咎于蝴蝶繁殖的美国西北部比平常更高的温度和干燥的条件。
The weather conditions affect the growth of milkweed, the plant where the butterflies lay their eggs. When the young arrive, milkweed is their food for a time.
天气状况会影响马利筋的生长，马利筋是蝴蝶产卵的地方。当幼崽出生时，马利筋是它们的食物。
In one of the planet's famous wildlife migrations, the butterflies travel south as many as 4,500 kilometers from places as far north as Canada. They spend the winter in warmer Mexico, where millions of the insects stay in trees that protect them from the rain and cold.
在地球上著名的野生动物迁徙中，蝴蝶从遥远的加拿大向南迁徙了4500公里。它们在温暖的墨西哥过冬，在那里数以百万计的昆虫呆在树上，保护它们免受雨水和寒冷。
Monarch butterfly populations change year to year. As recently as 2021, the same study showed a 35 percent increase to cover around 2.8 hectares.
帝王蝶的数量每年都在变化。就在2021年，同一项研究显示，面积增加了35%，达到2.8公顷左右。
Officials and activists called for more action to help the species. Such calls include the need to reduce threats posed by herbicides that destroy milkweed and the need to protect forests.
官员和活动人士呼吁采取更多行动来帮助这一物种。这些呼吁包括需要减少除草剂对马利筋造成的威胁，以及需要保护森林。
"We can't lower our guard," Jorge Rickards, head of WWF's Mexico office, told reporters after releasing the latest data.
“我们不能放松警惕，”世界自然基金会墨西哥办事处负责人豪尔赫·里卡兹在公布最新数据后告诉记者。
