科学家争论动物有无同性恋

英语自学网

　　Wildlife studies have put focus to animal homosexuality for quite a long
time. A recent research appears to have confirmed that homosexual behaviour in
the animal world actually does exist. The conclusion again has caused great
controversy in biology。
        　　According to Telegraph, May 18, a study centered on an albatross colony at
the University of Hawaii revealed that one third of albatross 'couples', are
consistent of two females. Previously, some biologists had claimed that 'gay'
animal behaviour has been spotted in 1,500 different species. For example, about
a fifth of captive king penguins are gay。
        　　Sexuality is not just about making babies, it is also about making the
flock work. For some animals, homosexuality is normal flock behaviour. For
example, it is common for male black swans to raise cygnets as a couple。
        　　Professor Paul Harvey, at the University of Oxford, said it is unreasonable
and inmature to compare our human concept of homosexuality and its societal
effects with irrational animals'。
        　　野生动植物学界对动物同性恋探讨已久，目前一项最新研究似乎证实了同性恋现象的确在动物界存在，该结论却再次引发学界争议。
        　　据英国《每日电讯报》18日报道，出自夏威夷大学的最新研究表明，通过对鸟类信天翁的跟踪调查，研究人员发现大约有1/3的信天翁家庭由两只雌信天翁组成。此前有科学家认为，全球约有1500种不同种群的动物存在同性恋行为。比如，大约有1/5的帝企鹅是同性恋。
        　　性行为并不只是指繁衍下一代，它也包括集体劳动。对于一些动物来说，同性恋行为也包括平常的群体劳作，比如，两只雄性黑天鹅一起抚养小天鹅也是非常平常的事情。
        　　该结论引发争议。牛津大学教授保罗认为，人类把自己对同性恋的认识和非理性的动物行为做比较是不可取的。