2010年04月02日08:26
科學家們相信 蟾蜍有第六感北京時間4月1日消息，據國外媒體報道，科學家研究發現，蟾蜍能夠提前5天探知地震的發生。
2009年4月意大利拉奎拉地區遭遇地震，造成重大傷亡和財產損失。英國開放大學(Open University)的科研人員研究發現，在地震發生前，拉奎拉城外的蟾蜍大舉逃離棲息地。科研人員注意到，盡管當時恰逢蟾蜍重要的繁殖季節，但96%的雄性蟾蜍在地震5天前逃離了它們的棲息地。而地震3天前，配對的蟾蜍數量下降為零。而且，地震發生后直到最后一次余震發生期間，當地並沒有發現蟾蜍所產下的卵。
在蟾蜍繁殖地，雄性蟾蜍佔據統治地位，而且當交配行為開始后，蟾蜍會待在原地一動不動，直到產下卵為止。
雷切爾·格蘭特博士領導進行了這項研究。他說：“這是首個記錄震前、震中和震后動物行為的研究。我們的研究結果表明，蟾蜍能夠探知震前征兆，比如氣體的釋放和探測帶電粒子。這些構成了蟾蜍預知地震的預警系統。”
據信，地震前夕地球內部會釋放出氡氣和重力波，並被大氣層反射回來，會被蟾蜍探知。
科研人員將研究成果發表在《動物學》雜志上。(唐寧)
來源：新浪科技
http://scitech.people.com.cn/BIG5/11282368.html
蟾蜍能够預測地震
TOADS CAN PREDICT EARTHQUAKES
Wednesday March 31,2010
By Nikki Barr for express.co.uk
Those living in countries vulnerable to earthquakes may want to start closely monitoring the behaviour of common toads, as recent research reveals the animals may be able to predict coming quakes.
Many animals are believed to have a “sixth sense” about natural disasters, but research published today suggests common toads really can sense a coming earthquake.
Researchers at the Open University studying toads in Italy, found 96 per cent of males abandoned a breeding site 46 miles from the epicentre of the earthquake that hit L’Aquila in 2009, five days before it struck.
The number of pairs at the site dropped to zero three days before the quake, according to the study published in the Zoological Society of London’s Journal of Zoology.
And there was no fresh toadspawn laid at the spot from the date the earthquake struck to the last significant aftershock of more than 4.5 on the Richter scale.
According to the researchers, male toads would normally remain in the breeding sites from the point mating activities get under way until spawning is complete.
The scientists believe the toads could be able to detect environmental changes, such as the release of gases or charged particles from the ground, before seismic events.
The coming earthquake appears to have prompted them to break off from breeding and evacuate the site.
Their exodus coincided with disruptions in the ionosphere, the uppermost electromagnetic layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, which could be the result of the release of radon gas and gravity waves prior to an earthquake.
Dr Rachel Grant, who was studying the impact of the lunar cycle on the toads when the earthquake struck, said: “Our study is the first to document animal behaviour before, during and after an earthquake. Our findings suggest that toads are able to detect pre-seismic cues such as the release of gases and charged particles, and use these as a form of earthquake early warning system.”
Dr Grant said she was “very surprised” by the toads’ unexpected disappearance for five days before the earthquake struck, and it was only after the event that a colleague suggested the two events could be linked.
She believes the amphibians could have evolved to evacuate an area when they sensed the changes associated with a quake.
Earthquakes can cause flooding, rock-falls or landslides which could devastate a population gathered in a single spot to breed, and the toads may have headed to higher, safer ground.
She said: “An earthquake could wipe out a population in that area. This particular species are very dispersed and can live up to a mile or two from their breeding site.
“A landslide or flood could wipe out virtually 100 per cent of the males, and quite a lot of the females. A day after the earthquake, they all started coming back. The numbers were still lower than normal and remained low until after the last aftershock.”
While earthquakes are a rare phenomenon, toads have been around on the planet for 450 million years - long enough to evolve a response to such potentially catastrophic events, she suggested.
And as for a sixth sense, she said animals were able to detect things that humans could not - but with their ordinary senses, which could be much more sensitive to certain things than ours.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/166391/Toads-can-predict-earthquakes
蟾蜍能否用作警告人類即將發生的自然災害？
Could toads be used to warn humans of impending natural disasters?
By David Derbyshire
Last updated at 10:29 AM on 31st March 2010
The toad has long been a favourite magical companion of witches and wizards. Now it seems that the humble amphibians may have picked up some magical skills of their own.
Scientists have discovered that common toads have a sixth sense about natural disasters - and can predict when an earthquake is about to strike.
In an extraordinary example of animal foresight, 96 per cent of male toads fled a breeding site 46 miles from the epicentre of the earthquake that hit L'Aquilia in Italy last year - five days before it struck.
Man's best friend? Scientists believe toads have a sixth sense男人的最好朋友？科學家們相信蟾蜍有第六感
Researchers found male toads fled a breeding site 46 miles from the epicentre of the earthquake that hit L'Aquilia last year (above) - five days before it struck.研究人員發現，去年L'阿奎利亞地震（上），公蟾蜍從震央 46英里的繁殖地逃亡 - 發生前5天。
Three days before the quake, there were no breeding pairs left at the site, according to the study published in the Zoological Society of London's Journal of Zoology.
And there was no fresh toad spawn laid at the spot from the date the earthquake struck to the last significant aftershock of more than 4.5 on the Richter scale
According to the researchers from the Open University, male toads would normally remain at the breeding site from the start of the mating season until spawning is complete.
They believe the toads were able to detect environmental changes missed by people - such as the release of gases or charged particles from the ground, before seismic events.
The coming earthquake appears to have prompted them to break off from breeding and evacuate the site.
Dr Rachel Grant, who was studying the impact of the lunar cycle on the toads when the earthquake struck, said: 'Our study is the first to document animal behaviour before, during and after an earthquake.
'Our findings suggest that toads are able to detect pre-seismic cues such as the release of gases and charged particles, and use these as a form of earthquake early warning system.'
Sixth-sense: Toads can come in all shapes and sizes, like this one which is 15 inches long and weighs nearly one kilogram第六感覺：蟾蜍可以有各種形狀和大小，像這隻它是15吋長和重約 1公斤
Dr Grant said she was 'very surprised' by the toads' unexpected disappearance for five days before the earthquake struck, and it was only after the event that a colleague suggested the two events could be linked.
She believes the amphibians could have evolved to evacuate an area when they sensed the changes associated with a quake.
Earthquakes can cause flooding, rock-falls or landslides which could devastate a population gathered in a single spot to breed, and the toads may have headed to higher, safer ground.
'An earthquake could wipe out a population in that area,' she said. 'This particular species are very dispersed and can live up to a mile or two from their breeding site. A landslide or flood could wipe out virtually 100 per cent of the males, and quite a lot of the females.
'A day after the earthquake, they all started coming back. The numbers were still lower than normal and remained low until after the last aftershock.'
Their exodus coincided with disruptions in the ionosphere, the uppermost electromagnetic layer of the Earth's atmosphere, which could be the result of the release of radon gas and gravity waves prior to an earthquake.
While earthquakes are a rare phenomenon, toads have been around on the planet for 450 million years - long enough to evolve a response to such potentially catastrophic events, she suggested.
The common toads studied in Italy are identical to the toads found in British gardens
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1262382/Could-toads-used-warn-humans-impending-natural-disasters.html
深圳衛視：大量青蛙驚現深圳
火山噴發與綠潮有關
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