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--089e0160a3ac0c45ba04e1257e3b Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 At the end of Chapter 2 (Green Tyrannosaurs) author Steve Jones (Darwin's Island, Abacus, 2010) observes that carnivorous plants are threatened by excess human-sourced nitrogen in the environment. His argument goes as follows: Carnivorous plants (pitcher plants, sundews, bladderworts) exist in low nutrient, acidic wetlands b/c they are able to absorb nitrogen from their insect prey. Other conventional photosynthesizing plants are unable to thrive in these environments as they cannot absorb sufficient N through their roots so pose no competition to the bog plants. But this is changing. Where plant-friendly N has enriched the bog from fertilizer runoff or exhaust etc carnivorous plants are switching to photosynthesis (Pitcher Plants produce more leaves, Sundews no longer need sticky droplets to snare prey and bladderworts lose their bladders). If they can now more easily live by that means so can other plants who will move in and take over the bog ousting the insect-eaters. This article touches on the subject http://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/nitrogen-pollution-empties-the-pitcher-plant What about observations from around here? Has anyone who has had a long term relationship with a bog noticed changes? Or studies conducted in our region? Nancy --089e0160a3ac0c45ba04e1257e3b Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div><div><div>At the end of Chapter 2 (Green Tyranno= saurs) author Steve Jones (Darwin's Island, Abacus, 2010) observes that= carnivorous plants are threatened by excess human-sourced nitrogen in the = environment. His argument goes as follows:<br> <br></div>Carnivorous plants (pitcher plants, sundews, bladderworts) exist = in low nutrient, acidic wetlands b/c they are able to absorb nitrogen from = their insect prey. Other conventional photosynthesizing plants are unable t= o thrive in these environments as they cannot absorb sufficient N through t= heir roots so pose no competition to the bog plants. But this is changing. = Where plant-friendly N has enriched the bog from fertilizer runoff or exhau= st etc carnivorous plants are switching to photosynthesis (Pitcher Plants p= roduce more leaves, Sundews no longer need sticky droplets to snare prey an= d bladderworts lose their bladders). If they can now more easily live by th= at means so can other plants who will move in and take over the bog ousting= the insect-eaters.<br> <br></div>This article touches on the subject <a href=3D"http://northernwoo= dlands.org/outside_story/article/nitrogen-pollution-empties-the-pitcher-pla= nt">http://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/nitrogen-pollution-e= mpties-the-pitcher-plant</a><br> <br></div>What about observations from around here? Has anyone who has had = a long term relationship with a bog noticed changes? Or studies conducted i= n our region?<br><br></div>Nancy<br></div> --089e0160a3ac0c45ba04e1257e3b--
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