NASA助力保护鲸鲨？

Thousands of people around the world are lending a hand to help save the world's biggest fish. 

全球有数千人正致力于拯救世界上最大型的鱼。

By taking photos of whale sharks, these "citizen scientists" are providing researchers with critical information about the giant sharks' population hotspots and migration routes. 

通过拍摄鲸鲨的照片，这些科学家们正给研究员提供一些重要的信息，揭示这种大鱼的种群聚集地和迁徙路线。

Whale sharks are endangered, with estimates suggesting populations worldwide have plummeted by more than 50% over the past 75 years. 

鲸鲨已经成为濒危物种，据估计，在过去的75年全球种群数量下降了50%以上。

Although they are protected in many countries, whale sharks are still killed by the fishing industry -- caught deliberately for their fins (shark fin soup is a delicacy in parts of Asia) and as accidental bycatch, especially in tuna fishing areas where whale sharks and tuna swim close together. 

虽然在很多国家受到了保护，鲸鲨仍然在捕鱼业中受到伤害——有些是故意猎杀来获取他们的鱼鳍（在亚洲一些地区，鱼鳍可以做成美味的鱼翅），还有时会作为一些捕鱼作业的副产品，尤其是在那些金枪鱼捕捞区，在那里鲸鲨经常和金枪鱼一起游动。

Whale sharks are also threatened by oil and gas drilling, vessel strikes and climate change.

鲸鲨同时也受到石油钻探业，船只停运和气候变化的威胁。

To help protect the species, Australian marine biologist Brad Norman co-founded The Wildbook for Whale Sharks, a photo identification database that went online in 2003. 

为了帮助保护这个物种，澳大利亚的海洋生物学家布拉德·诺曼联合成立了鲸鲨相册，这是一个2003年上线的网络相册。

Members of the public, scientists and whale shark tour operators around the world contribute photos of whale sharks to the system, which uses NASA technology to map their locations and track their movements. 

该组织的成员有公众也有科学家，以及一些鲸鲨的旅游从业者，他们从全世界各地往这个系统里发送照片，该系统利用美国航空航天局的技术来帮助定位鲸鲨的分布并追踪他们的移动。

Today, the database holds over 70,000 submissions from more than 50 countries -- making it one of the biggest crowd-sourced conservation projects in the world. 

如今，该相册已经拥有来自全球多达50多个国家的七万多张照片，使其成为了世界上最大型的众筹保育项目。

Despite their imposing size -- whale sharks can grow up to 20 meters (65 feet) long -- these gentle giants don't pose a danger to swimmers. 

尽管体型硕大无朋——鲸鲨可以涨到20米长（65英尺），这种庞然大物并不会对游泳者带来威胁。

Feeding on plankton and tiny marine organisms, they cruise at a leisurely maximum of three miles per hour, allowing snorkelers and divers to get up close.

鲸鲨以浮游动植物为食物，它们的游速可以达到每小时三英里左右，使得潜水器和潜水员们可以靠近它们。

In the Maldives, whale sharks are a popular attraction but government guidelines designed to protect the sharks from harassment are frequently breached.

在马尔代夫，鲸鲨是著名的旅游看点，政府专门设立了一些保护鲸鲨的措施，然而经常会有人违反。

This can cause stress for the animals, while boat collision injuries can impact their development and ability to travel long distances.

这会让动物感到压力，被船只撞击带来的创伤，也会影响它们的发育和长途迁徙能力。

Whale sharks in the Philippines are routinely provided with food to attract them to places where visitors can easily see them. 

在菲律宾，人们经常用食物，把鲸鲨引诱到游客容易看到的地方。

This can change the sharks' diving patterns and metabolism, while a high level of scarring indicates increased boat strikes. 

这会改变鲸鲨的潜水和代谢方式，从身上增加的伤痕，可以看出它们撞船的风险也增加了。

The crowding from tourist activity and feeding can also lead to coral reef degradation. 

游客群集和喂食行动也会带来珊瑚礁的退化。

But where whale shark tourism is practiced responsibly, it can help save the species. 

不过只要合理进行管理，鲸鲨旅游业也可以保护这个物种。

Norman hopes to see more data collection around the world, plugging information gaps and strengthening conservation efforts. 

诺曼希望能够收集到全球更多的数据，填补一些信息空缺，助力保育活动。

He's seeking what he calls "the Holy Grail" -- finding out where the whale sharks go to mate. 

他希望找到那个叫做圣杯的地方，也就是鲸鲨进行交配的地方。

Protecting their breeding grounds is the "one big thing" needed to save the species in the long run, he says. 

保护它们的交配地是保护这个物种长期发展的重要措施，他说。

The help of thousands of citizen scientists gives him a better chance of making that possible.

来自数千名科学家们的共同努力，让他看到了更多希望。

问题

文中提到鲸鲨的食物是什么？

留言回复正确，前五名朋友可以获得红包奖励哦，赶快来试试吧。