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Historically, oyster farming used techniques that required raking or vacuuming,
从传统方面讲，牡蛎养殖使用的技术需要耙平或真空，
damaging eelgrass, which is vital to the survival of tiny fish and other invertebrates.
这会损坏鳗草，它对于小鱼和其它无脊椎动物的生存很重要。
So when eelgrass was found near oyster beds belonging to Hog Island Oyster Company, policy makers were alarmed.
当人们在牡蛎养殖场附近发现鳗草时，政策制定者就会警醒，养殖场属于霍格岛牡蛎公司。
Hog Island teamed up with researchers from the Nature Conservancy and UC-Santa Cruz
该公司与自然保护协会和加州大学圣克鲁兹分校的研究员合作，
to investigate the relationship between their oysters and the eelgrass. Key to their research? Drones.
调查牡蛎和鳗草的关系，那么研究的关键是无人机。
This camera is a really high resolution camera and it captures imagery in both video and still that makes a map of ecosystems we care about.
它的摄像机是高清的，可以通过动态和静止画面呈现，可以提供我们关注的生态系统图。
Before drones, scientist had to rely on scuba diving, sonar studies or airplanes to monitor eelgrass, all of them labor intensive and expensive.
在无人机之前，科学家要依赖潜水，声纳研究或者飞机来监控鳗草，所有这些都是劳动密集型和昂贵的。
Probably would have taken about 50 separate steps just five years ago and would have taken maybe one or two days to complete.
五年前我们需要执行大约50个独立步骤，或许需要一两天完成。
Now we can do it in 15 minutes. When paired with these goggles, head movement is synced with the drone's camera.
我们如今可以在15分钟内完成，当与眼镜配套使用，头的运动将与无人机的摄像机同步。
It's almost a zen moment cause you're actually able to fly and,
这几乎可以让你放松下来，因为你可以飞翔了，
and you can trick your brain to think you're actually up there in that drone.
让你的大脑认为你就在无人机上。
Oysters naturally clean turbid water, creating an ideal environment for eelgrass.
牡蛎是可以清洁污浊的水源，为鳗草提供理想的环境。
So what researchers are finding is that modern-day oyster farming methods that do not include raking or vacuuming,
所以研究人员发现的是，现代化的养殖技术不会包括耙平或真空，
might even being having a positive effect on eelgrass, which could be a game-changer in regard to the strict regulations regarding oyster farming.
此举将对鳗草产生积极作用，对于严格管制的牡蛎养殖而言或许会迎来改变。
The quality of the imagery has given us an amazing tool, showing our policymakers what's going on.
高质量的图像是好途径，让政策制定者看到发生的情况。
It will take a few more years of research before results are considered conclusive,
结论性的研究结果将要等待几年，
but scientists are confident they will find the answers thanks to the drones.
但科学家相信他们会因为无人机而发现答案。
Deana Mitchell for VOA news, Marshall, California
VOA新闻，蒂娜·米切尔加州马歇尔报道。
