HOW MANY SPECIES INHABIT THE EARTH
HOW MANY SPECIES INHABIT THE EARTH
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DOI：
10.1038/scientificamerican1092-42
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发表时间：
1992-10-01
影响因子：
3
通讯作者：
MAY, RM
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
MAY, RM
如果一个外星探险家登陆地球，他会问的第一个问题是什么？我想，外星人会询问这个星球上生物的数量和种类。考虑到地球的物理属性来自于宇宙和本质上的确定性定律，想必经常旅行的游客可能会在整个宇宙中看到无数类似的世界。但是，几乎可以肯定的是，在地球上编织出丰富多彩的生命挂毯的进化力量和机会的经纬是独一无二的。
If an extraterrestrial explorer were to land on the earth, what is the first question it would ask? The alien would, I think, inquire about the number and variety of living organisms on this planet. Given that the earth's physical attributes derive from univer sal and essentially deterministic laws, the presumably well-traveled visitor would probably have seen countless similar worlds throughout the universe. But the warp of evolutionary forces and the weft of chance that crafted the rich tapestry of life on the earth are almost certainly unique.