Electronics 'affect bird navigation' 电子设备影响鸟儿的方向感

媒体英语会带大家一起学习 BBC 撰稿人在报道世界大事时常用到的单词和短语。

据一项研究调查显示电子产品可能对某些鸟类的迁徙产生影响。一组德国科研人员发现由电子设备和广播信号制造的电磁场会影响鸟类的方向感。这项研究发表在《自然》杂志上。请听 BBC Rebecca Morelle 发回的报道。

Some birds perform remarkable feats of navigation, migrating halfway around the world. And it’s thought that a built-in compass, which senses the Earth's magnetic field, helps them to find their way.

But this latest study suggests that low frequency waves produced by devices plugged into the mains electricity, could be interfering with this 'inner satnav'. Scientists found that migratory birds exposed to this electromagnetic noise lost all sense of direction. But when the field was blocked out, they found their bearings again.

Researchers believe electrical interference could be a particular problem when birds fly over urban areas. They think the birds are forced to switch to back-up navigational systems, staying on course using the sun and stars instead.