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When I was little, I was very fascinated by carnivorous plants, such as the Dionaea muscipula, commonly known as the Venus Flytrap. It is amazing how these plants adapted to living in soil lacking important nutrients, especially nitrogen. By capturing and consuming insects and other organisms, even tiny birds, carnivorous plants-which are also photosynthetic- are able to supplement their nutrient intake and survive. Their adaptations and mechanisms to catch prey really are marvels of nature.
Dr. Jonathan Millett, from Loughborough University, and his team of scientists found that the roundleaf sundew plants of Northern Sweden, an area with relatively low air pollution, received 57% of their nitrogen intake from their prey, whereas roundleaf sundew plants of Southern Sweden, a highly polluted area, only received 20% to 30% from their prey. The rest of the needed nitrogen was taken up through the soil. Therefore, the more nitrogen in the air, the more nitrogen gets seeped into the soil via rainfall, and the less nitrogen the carnivorous plants need from their prey to survive.
So, why is nitrogen pollution bad for carnivorous plants?
After reading this, you might be a little puzzled. If the plants are getting enough nitrogen, isn't nitrogen pollution of value and assistance? The answer to this is NO. Carnivorous plants are adapted to living in nutrient-poor environments and they profit from this. With less nitrogen in the soil, there is less competition between carnivorous plants and other plant species (interspecific competition), so carnivorous plants do not struggle to obtain natural resources, such as sunlight and water.
Yet, when the soil becomes nitrogen-rich, as it is becoming in places such as Southern Sweden, other plants species begin to "move in," and the competition they create could be deadly for many carnivorous plants. Considering the fact that carnivorous plants use more energy than non-carnivorous plants, since they have to operate and manage their complex system of traps to catch their prey, they are weaker competitors than other plant species, and these other plant species could take over. By blocking sunlight or using all of the water in the ground, non-carnivorous plants can cause the population of carnivorous plants to decline, and even go extinct. Although the roundleaf sundew is widely abundant, and its chances of going extinct are slim, the sporadic and less populated carnivorous plant species are the ones in danger, especially the ones that are already on the endangered species list.
Once again, pollution is taking its toll on our wildlife, and once again, I stress how important it is that humans get their act together and clean our planet. What are your thoughts on nitrogen pollution's effect on wildlife? Does it effect any other plant of animal species? Do you think that we can help save carnivorous plant species before is is too late? Remember, this is just the beginning, and if we don't act soon, we might have to say goodbye to our beloved meat-eating plants.
Picture Credit: Arnstein Rønning (via Flickr)
Sources:
Christine Dell'Amore "Meat-Eating Plants Getting "Full" on Pollution" National Geographic June 12, 2012
Matt Bardo "Pollutant turns fly-traps veggie" BBC Nature June 14, 2012
