外來物種的威脅
Nonnative species that cause significant damage when introduced to a new geographic area are called invasive species.
被引進新環境後造成嚴重破壞的外來物種即稱作「入侵物種」。
introduce(v.)引入;引進
The introduction of invasive species is often associated with human activity.
入侵物種的出現往往與人類活動有關。
be associated with=與…有關
In fact, due to increased trade between countries, dangers posed by invasive species have become one of the notable threats to the global ecosystem today.
事實上，由於各國貿易往來頻繁，由入侵物種所引起的危機已嚴重危及全球生態系統。
threat(n.)威脅ecosystem(n.)生態系統
One example of such an invasion made possible by human transportation is the zebra mussel, a freshwater shellfish native to Eastern Europe.
其中一個由人類運輸引進的入侵物種是斑馬貽貝，牠是原產自歐洲東部的甲殼類淡水水生動物。
be native to=原產自…
With the growth of commerce in Europe during the early nineteenth century, zebra mussels spread across the entire continent.
19世紀初歐洲境內貿易往來密切，斑馬貽貝由此擴及整個大陸。
commerce(n.)商業貿易spread(v.)擴散;傳播
By the end of the twentieth century, the zebra mussels infested the Great Lakes region in North America by hiding in the ballast water tanks of transatlantic cargo vessels.
到了20世紀末期，附著在貨船壓艙水箱內的斑馬貽貝橫跨大西洋，大舉入侵北美洲五大湖。
infest(v.)大舉出沒;襲擾transatlantic(adj.)跨越大西洋的
Although zebra mussels are small, they have negatively affected local ecosystems and caused property damage.
雖然斑馬貽貝很小，但牠們卻為當地生態帶來負面影響並對硬體設備造成損壞。
negatively(adv.)負面地
In habitats where zebra mussels become dominant, their rapid reproduction rate allows them to outcompete other plankton eaters for food, resulting in reduced local fish populations.
在斑馬貽貝盤踞的棲息地，迅速的繁殖速度使其在競爭上得以勝過其他以浮游生物為食的原生物種，導致本土水生動物數量減少。
dominant(adj.)主導的;佔優勢的reproduction(n.)繁殖;繁衍outcompete(v.)戰勝outsmart(v.)在智力上勝過…outweigh(v.)比…更重要
In addition, they tend to latch onto objects with hard surfaces, causing the water supply infrastructure to malfunction.
此外，斑馬貽貝往往還會附著在表面堅硬的物體，造成水利設備發生故障。
latch onto=附著在…上malfunction(v.)故障;失靈