地球暖化使得動物們也開始「變形」求生　Global warming causes animals to “shapeshift” for survival

In a recent study, researchers noticed that some animals are shapeshifting to adapt to the changing climate.

As the global temperature keeps rising, some warm-blooded animals are developing larger legs, ears, and beaks to regulate their body temperature more effectively. Mammals use their ears to disperse warmth when they feel overheated, while birds cool themselves down with open beaks. Failing to control internal body temperature could cost them their lives.

Animals’ fur and feathers provide good insulation against the cold. Therefore, body parts of animals not covered by those insulators, such as beaks and ears, can be used to exchange heat. This evolution over a timescale that is much shorter than usual does not mean that animals are coping with the climate crisis well. Instead, they are just struggling to survive.

友善讓你懂 │ 解說：

在一項近期的研究中，研究人員注意到，部分動物正透過改變外型來適應氣候的變遷。

隨著全球氣溫不斷上升，有些恆溫動物長出更大的腳、耳朵、還有鳥喙，來更有效率地調節體溫。當溫度過高的時候，哺乳類動物會用耳朵來散熱，而鳥類會張大鳥嘴、排出熱氣來給自己降溫。無法調控身體內部溫度很可能會要了恆溫動物的小命。

動物的毛髮和羽毛，能提供很好的隔絕效果來阻擋寒冷氣候。因此，牠們身上沒有被這類防寒隔熱物給覆蓋到的地方，例如鳥喙和耳朵等，就會被用來排熱調溫。現在觀察到的這種『進化』，比一般正常的進化程序所需要的時間短上許多，並不代表動物們目前正成功地應付了氣候變遷帶來的危機。這反而意味著，牠們正在掙扎求生。

輕鬆帶著走 │ 學習：

cope with 是「對付、應付」的意思，帶有「克服困難、成功處理」的意味。相較之下，deal with則較偏重在「著手解決問題」的行為。

例句：
It is very challenging to cope with your kids and your job during the pandemic lockdown.
在疫情封城期間，要同時搞定孩子跟工作是一件非常有挑戰性的事。

本篇其他相關單字，介紹如下：

• shapeshift (v.) 變形
• warm-blooded animal 恆溫動物、溫血動物
• beak (n.) 鳥喙
• disperse (v.) 散開
• insulation (n.) 隔絕、隔熱。insulator (n.) 絕緣物、隔絕體
• timescale (n.) 一段時間、時間段