Scientists have discovered the world’s largest known field of sea grass. They did it using videos shot by some unusual helpers: tiger sharks. The work should help protect the sea grass, and also shows off a powerful way to explore the ocean.
Sea grasses are flowering plants that normally grow in shallow waters near coasts. They grow in thick fields，known as meadows(草地). Sea grass meadows help clean the ocean’s water, and provide food and shelter for many sea creatures. Sea grasses store huge amounts of carbon—the harmful pollution that’s making global warming worse. Damaging these sea grass meadows can release this pollution again,so it’s important to protect them.
From above, the meadows can be hard to spot, either because the water is too deep or not clear enough. And the ocean is so huge that it’s simply not possible to study it all by diving. So a team of scientists decided to have sharks help with the research. Tiger sharks are huge, strong, and deadly. But they also live underwater, are fast swimmers, and spend a lot of time in sea grass meadows. Between 2016 and 2020, a team of researchers attached cameras and other trackers to the fins (鳍) of seven tiger sharks. After catching the sharks, the scientists worked quickly to attach the equipment, and then let them go again.
The scientists have learned that the waters around the Bahamas are home to the largest sea grass meadow ever discovered and that the world has roughly 40% more sea grass meadows than they previously thought.
The programme shows how useful large underwater animals can be in helping to learn more about life under the sea. Oliver Ship ley is a scientist at Beneath the Waves,which led the work. He says animals like tiger sharks “...are going to take us to new places that we didn’t know existed.”
【小题1】What can be known about sea grasses in Paragraph 2?| A．They help fight global warming. | B．They need to be removed regularly. |
| C．They mainly live on sea creatures. | D．They grow in deep waters of the ocean. |
| A．They are sensitive to sea grasses. | B．Cameras are easily fixed on them. |
| C．They are the most faithful sea animals. | D．They spend much time in sea grass meadows. |
| A．They are dangerous. | B．They are adorable. |
| C．They are helpful. | D．They are smart. |
| A．Many new places in the ocean need exploring. |
| B．Sharks help discover world’s largest sea grass meadow. |
| C．Scientists have found a powerful way to protect the ocean. |
| D．Large underwater animals contribute a lot to the ocean. |
