This is Scientific American — 60-Second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin. This will just take a minute!
这里是《科学美国人》的60秒科学,我是凯伦·霍普金。只需要一分钟哦!
When you think of birds, you probably imagine their dazzling plumage or their beautiful songs. But since the days of Darwin, scientists have figured that individual species of birds should not have both: they’d either be drab virtuosos or eye candy that sings only one note.
当你想到鸟类时,你可能会想到它们华丽的羽毛或美妙的歌声。但从达尔文时代开始,科学家们就认为,鸟类个体物种不应该同时拥有这两种特征:它们要么是暗淡的音乐家,要么是只会唱一个音符的花瓶。
Now a study shows that some songbirds are in fact show-offs in sight and sound. The work is in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
现在一项研究表明,一些鸣禽在视觉和声音方面确实都很出色。这项工作发表在《皇家学会学报 B》上。
Bright feathers and complex songs are different ways to attract a mate. The more flamboyant the display, the more likely a bird will get noticed. But these exaggerated calling cards take a lot of energy to produce. Which is why scientists assumed that birds would have to choose between melody or looks.
鲜艳的羽毛和复杂的歌声是吸引配偶的不同方式。鸟儿的表演越华丽,就越有可能被注意到。但这些夸张的展示需要消耗大量能量才能制造出来。这就是为什么科学家们认为鸟类必须在旋律和外表之间做出选择。
But an exhaustive survey of the tanagers, a family of songbirds from Central and South America, shows no sign of a tradeoff. Although some tanager species do emphasize oration over attire, like the aptly named drab hemispingus, some, like the mountain tanager, are both dashing and melodious. While the white-bellied seedeater is fine with looking and sounding rather dull.
但对于一些生活在中南美洲的鸣禽——唐纳雀的详尽调查显示,它们在这两方面都很出色。虽然一些唐纳雀品种的歌喉确实胜过外表,就像它的名字----褐拟雀。还有一些山地唐纳雀,既具有华丽的外表又具有悦耳的歌喉。而白腹食籽雀的外表和歌喉的都相对平凡。
The different species likely experienced different selective pressures, leading to their varied strategies. Whatever it takes to catch the eye, and/or ear, of a potential mate.
不同的物种可能经历了不同的选择压力,导致它们采用了不同的策略。无论是吸引目光和/或耳朵,都是为了找对象。
Thanks for the minute for Scientific American — 60-Second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin.
感谢收听《科学美国人》的60秒科学。凯伦·霍普金报道。
This is Scientific American — 60-Second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin. This will just take a minute!
When you think of birds, you probably imagine their dazzling plumage or their beautiful songs. But since the days of Darwin, scientists have figured that individual species of birds should not have both: they’d either be drab virtuosos or eye candy that sings only one note.
Now a study shows that some songbirds are in fact show-offs in sight and sound. The work is in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Bright feathers and complex songs are different ways to attract a mate. The more flamboyant the display, the more likely a bird will get noticed. But these exaggerated calling cards take a lot of energy to produce. Which is why scientists assumed that birds would have to choose between melody or looks.
But an exhaustive survey of the tanagers, a family of songbirds from Central and South America, shows no sign of a tradeoff. Although some tanager species do emphasize oration over attire, like the aptly named drab hemispingus, some, like the mountain tanager, are both dashing and melodious. While the white-bellied seedeater is fine with looking and sounding rather dull.
The different species likely experienced different selective pressures, leading to their varied strategies. Whatever it takes to catch the eye, and/or ear, of a potential mate.
Thanks for the minute for Scientific American — 60-Second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin.
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