The tropics, off the coast of Cuba. For thousands of years, these waters have been one of the hotspots of life in the ocean. But in seas like this – near the Earth's equator – the richness of marine¹ life is shrinking due to climate change.

这是古巴海岸附近的热带地区。数千年以来，这片水域一直是众多海洋生物聚集的热点地区之一。但在这种靠近地球赤道的海域里，海洋生物的多样性正因气候变化而缩减。

 

A new global study – the largest of its kind – has found that since 1955, open-water species declined by about half in tropical oceans. Sea surface temperatures rose by nearly 0.2 degrees Celsius². It's happening faster than expected.

一项同类调查中规模最大的新全球研究发现，居住在热带海洋开阔水域的物种数量自1955年来减少了约一半。海面温度上升了近0.2摄氏度。这比预期的速度要快。

 

Sebastian Ferse, coral reef researcher and ecologist

So in geological history, this is a [blip], so it's just a wink³ of an eye. And to see such rapid changes, or such changes… occurring so rapidly, is something that's astonishing, I would say.

塞巴斯蒂安·弗斯     珊瑚礁研究员和生态学家

“在地质史中，这是一个小插曲，只是眨眼间的事情。看到如此迅速的变化，发生得如此之快，是一件令人吃惊的事情。”

 

Scientists analysed data on more than 48,000 marine species, including fish, molluscs, birds and corals.

科学家们分析了超过48000种海洋物种的数据，包括鱼类、软体动物、鸟类和珊瑚。

 

It's the latest research that shows the large systemic changes global warming has had on the biodiversity of the ocean.

这项最新研究揭示了一个巨大的系统性变化，这是全球变暖给海洋生物多样性造成的影响。

 

And it suggests that the tropics are becoming too warm for many species to survive. Those species that can move are moving to cooler waters.

研究还发现，热带地区正变得过暖，暖得许多物种无法生存。那些能移动的物种正移向较冷的水域。

 

But for fixed⁴ species, like corals, moving is not an option. And staying put in warmer temperatures can lead to higher rates of coral bleaching⁵.

但对于珊瑚这样固定不动的物种来说，移动并不可行。而呆在更温暖的环境中会导致珊瑚白化的速度加快。

 

These shifts could devastate⁶ the ecosystems⁷ left behind, and any fishing and tourism industries that rely on them. It's another stark⁸ warning from scientists that unless we act soon to address the urgency of climate change, it will be too late.   

这些变化可能会摧毁留在原处的生态系统，以及任何依赖这些生态系统的渔业和旅游业。这是科学家们发出的又一个严正警告：除非我们尽快采取行动，正视气候变化的迫切性，否则将为时过晚。

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