外刊阅读20250110｜我是吗喽，苦酒入喉

+

上期划线句答案

+

本期内容

◆

双语阅读

Anecdotes from around the world describe wild animals—everything from wasps to songbirds to baboons—acting drunk after feeding on fermented fruits. But these incidents are assumed to be rare and accidental, and the scientific literature largely treats alcohol consumption as a uniquely human behavior. Now, a team of researchers is challenging this view. They cite growing evidence that fruit- and nectar -eating animals likely consume ethanol (or ethyl alcohol) on a regular basis. Ethanol is naturally present in nearly every ecosystem. It is made when yeast ferments the sugars in fruits, grains, saps, and nectars.

There are several hypotheses regarding why wild animals might ingest ethanol. First, occasional exposure to ethanol could be an unintended byproduct of a fruit-heavy diet. This may explain reports of cedar waxwings flying into solid objects after ingesting fermented fruits.

Ethanol consumption could also benefit wild animals in different ways. Animals could use the odors of fermentation to locate nutritious food sources. Additionally, ethanol could be targeted for medicinal purposes. Fruit flies, for instance, lay their eggs on substances containing ethanol, which protects the eggs from parasites.

A well-known hypothesis, at least for humans, is the idea that ingesting ethanol can trigger the release of endorphins and dopamine, leading to feelings of relaxation and happiness,” says Bowland. She and her colleagues say that this cognitive effect of ethanol consumption could have benefits in terms of sociality—but there just isn’t enough data from the wild yet to make any conclusions.

In her current research, Bowland is looking at the ethanol content in fruits consumed by chimpanzees. She is studying when fermented fruits are available in the environment and if chimpanzees target these foods. “ I think the take-home message is that we need to move away from this anthropocentric view that alcohol use is strictly limited to humans or a few well-studied animals like fruit flies,” says Bowland. Ethanol is far more prevalent in the natural environment than we previously thought, and probably far more widely used and ingested. And we're still looking at the behavioral and ecological implications of this.