生态系统科学家Yadvinder Malhi带我们踏上了一次令人瞠目结舌的旅程，穿越了使地球上生命滴答作响的隐藏能量流。从沐浴在阳光下的森林到热带岛屿，他展示了他的团队如何衡量世界各地生态系统的活力。他说，这个复杂的能量网络不仅仅是大自然的杰作——它是我们所有以这个星球为家的人的生命线。

如何测量地球的心跳

The planet’s health depends on the complex, vibrant flows of energy that connect plants, animals, and entire landscapes. In a single woodland, 60 percent of captured sunlight pours into trees, then moves through roots, soil, and countless living creatures. Intensive tree planting or focusing only on carbon misses the rich web of life that keeps ecosystems resilient. When these flows are disrupted, even a tropical island’s survival can hang in the balance.

True Vibrancy Means Letting Ecosystems Thrive, Not Just Counting Carbon

The health of our planet depends on the rich, complex flows of energy and nutrients that connect every living thing. In some English woodlands, 60 percent of sunlight captured by plants ends up in tree trunks, fueling intricate networks that sustain entire ecosystems. Focusing solely on carbon or single uses can reduce nature to a machine, missing the true vibrancy that allows life to adapt and thrive. Vibrant ecosystems, whether wild forests or managed savannahs, are more resilient to climate change and support both humans and wildlife.