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This spring time full moon is the trigger for a submarine spectacular.
春季的这种满月将引发一场海底奇观，
When the perfect tide height, day length, and sea temperature all align, this happens.
当完美的潮汐高度、日长和海水温度相贴合时，奇观便开始了，
Some 400 species of coral across 3,000 reefs reproduce over a series of nights.
即横跨了3000个珊瑚礁的大约400种珊瑚进行连续多晚的繁殖，
Tucked inside their limestone armor, millions of coral polyps release their eggs and sperm simultaneously.
数以百万计的珊瑚虫蜷缩在它们的石灰岩盔甲里，同时释放卵和精子。
You may be wondering what's big about these tiny floating jewels?
你可能在想，这些漂浮的小珠宝到底有多厉害？
Well together, they're responsible for growing the world's largest single living structure. The great barrier reef.
它们共同造就了世界上最大的单一生物结构——大堡礁。
At 1400 miles long, it's almost the vertical length of the United States, making it the only living thing visible from space.
大堡礁长1400英里，几乎等同于美国的垂直长度，这使得它成为了唯一从太空可见的生物。
Each time the reef reproduces, its gigantic scale increases.
珊瑚礁每繁殖一次，其巨大的规模就会扩大一次，
The resulting coral larvae travel back down to make their home on the reef.
繁殖的珊瑚幼虫会返回海底在珊瑚礁上安家。
This monumental structure once grew by several inches each year.
这个不朽的结构曾经每年便增长几英寸，
Of course, now there's a twist to this tale.
然而，情况发生了转折。
In recent years it's thought that half the coral in this big beast has died.
近年来，人们认为这只大型动物体内一半的珊瑚已经死亡。
It's believed rising sea temperatures are responsible for driving away the colorful algae that live inside coral.
人们认为，不断上升的海水温度是赶走珊瑚内的彩色藻类的原因。
Without nutrients and its distinctive hues, it's left bleached white.
没有了营养和独特的颜色，珊瑚便变成了白色。
It appears our modern world is taking its toll on this greatest of beasts.
看来我们的现代世界正在对这种伟大的动物造成伤害。
