1、Carnivorous Plants: Science Fiction or Science?What in the world is a carnivorous plant?Must be able to attract, capture and kill animals (mostly insects)Also must digest the animal Can survive without eating meat, though.Most are small (1 m tall) but one vine species can grow to be 10 m longWhere i

2、n the world can I find these plants?Everywhere except Antarctica!More abundant in Australia, southeast Asia and North AmericaEven Alachua county has them!600 species and sub-species, but not all related to each otherLets Review. . . 1) What are the 4 traits of a carnivorous plant? They attract, capt

3、ure, kill and digest animals2) Do non-carnivorous plants share any of these traits? Non-carnivorous plants can attract insects 3) Do they need to eat meat to survive? No-they have been grown in labs without meat4) Where in the world can you find these plants? Everywhere except Antarctica5) How many

4、species are there? Are they all related? 600 species and sub-species; they are not all related (convergent evolution) Why arent all plants meat-eaters?Carnivorous plants have an advantage over non-carnivorous plants in nutrient poor habitatsIn habitats with more nutrients, non-carnivorous plants do

5、better because they do not have to put energy into special structures. Lets Review. . . 1. What is the most common habitat of carnivorous plants?Nutrient poor wetlands.2. What feature of their habitat allowed them to evolve carnivory? The lack of nutrients available in the soil.3. Why does the habit

6、at have this feature?pH of water is low, so bacteria cannot help decompose plants and plants cannot take up nutrients as easily. 4. Why do non-carnivorous plants do better in habitats with more nutrients? Because they do not have to put energy into special structures to capture prey like carnivorous

7、 plants do. How do these plants capture prey?Can be sweet-smelling or brightly colored to attract prey to their trapThere are 2 types of trapsActive: Use rapid movement (ex. Venus fly-trap, Utricularia)Passive: sticky hairs or a long tube with hairs that trap preyActive or Passive?Lets Review . . .

8、1. What do carnivorous plants commonly eat? Insects, spiders and aquatic plants eat small animals, fish and mosquito larvae. 2. Name 3 less common things they have been found to eat. Amphibians, birds and rodents 3. What are the two types of traps they use to catch their prey?Active and passive4. Na

9、me a variation of each type of trap. Active: bladderwort (Utricularia), venus fly trap (Dionaea). Passive: pitcher plant has a pitfall trap; most carnivorous plants have sticky hairs. How do they digest their prey?Most produce digestive enzymesSome rely on bacteriaSome use both bacteria and digestiv

10、e enzymesHow do we affect carnivorous plants?Only 3-5% of carnivorous plant habitat left!Draining wetlandsFor roads, homes, stores and water Suppressing fireMany ecosystems need fire to stay healthyPollution from homes and agricultureGets into water and destroys plants Poaching the plants: Many are

11、endangered. Final Review and Wrap-Up1) What are the 4 traits of a carnivorous plant? Do non-carnivorous plants have any of these traits? Attract, capture, kill and digest animals. Yes, many plants attract insects for pollination. 2) How many species are there of carnivorous plants? Are they all related? 600 species and sub-species that are not all related (convergent evolution) 3) In what habitats and parts of the world are they found? Found mostly in nutrient poor