1. Murderous Plants Investigating adaptation
and competition
in carnivorous plants
Lesson 3
Conserving carnivorous plants in a changing landscape
Cover image © Henrik Larrson

2. Carnivorous Plant Conservation
Some carnivorous plants, such as Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap) and Darlingtonia californica (Californian Darlingtonia), have a limited distribution. This high level of endemism makes them vulnerable to changing moisture levels caused by land drainage and climate change, poaching by collectors and land acquisition for new homes.
Distribution of Darlingtonia californica
- endemic to California and Oregon, USA

3. Drosera rotundifolia
The last Drosera rotundifolia was seen growing at Keston in the 1980’s.
A new management plan - which includes increasing the moisture levels and removing the competing vegetation - has been put in place to create the right conditions for any remaining viable seed to grow at Keston again.
© scaners3d

4. Keston Bog Conservation Plan
Keston Common Interpretation Board
© London Borough of Bromley

5. Conservation Actions: What are your Priorities?
Creating Protected Areas?
Passing New Laws?
Developing an Education Programme?
Changing Land Management Practices?
Collecting Seed and Growing Plants off-site (ex-situ)?
Reducing Climate Change?

6. Carnivorous Plant Science Today
National Geographic reported, in 2010, the first study to show members of the plant and animal kingdoms competing for prey. In some habitats, carnivorous plants and certain spider species may compete.
Jason Rohr, an ecologist, who worked on this study, notes that “Overall, this contradicts a long-held assumption that competition for food mostly occurs among closely related taxa, or categories of organisms.”
Extracts from Dell'Amore, C. (2010)
Spiders, Carnivorous Plants Compete for Food—A First.
National Geographic [online]

7. Carnivorous Plant Science Today
“The plants produce modified ‘toilet pitchers’ that produce copious amounts of exudates, the latter serving as a food source for tree shrews.”
“The exudates are only accessible to the tree shrews when they position their hindquarters over the pitcher orifice.”
Clarke C., Moran J. A. and Chin, L. (2010)
Mutualism between tree shrews and pitcher plants: Perspectives and avenues for future research
Plant Signalling & Behaviour 5(10): 1187–1189
© Jeremiah Harris