Carnivorous Plants Suffer from Endangerment

Figure 1
Table of Contents

Abstract 3
Carnivorous Plant Endangerment Factors 4
Destruction of Natural Habitats 4
Water Pollution 5
Poaching 6
Conservation Solution 7
How the solution solves the problem 7
Conclusion 87
References 98

Table of Figures

Figure 1: Wetlands that Carnivorous plants naturally grow in. 4

Figure 2: Carnivorous plant dying from water pollution. 5
Figure 3: Carnivorous plants that are growing in a lab. 6
Figure 1 1
Figure 2: Wetlands that Carnivorous plants naturally grow in 4
Figure 3: Carnivorous plant dying from water pollution 5
Figure 4: Carnivorous plants that are growing in a lab 6
Abstract
Carnivorous plants are facing a devastating decrease in population due to many major
factors such as habitat loss, water pollution, and poaching. Today, around 69 species
have been considered critically endangered (ScienceDirect, para 1). As agriculture and
the development of the land have been expanding, it has started taking away much of
the natural habitat for Carnivorous plants. As their natural habitats have been slowly
destroyed their species have become scarce. Since many of these plants have specific
habitats that they can live in, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to grow due to
the specific environments and ecosystems they can live in. These plants have needs
that are difficult to maintain in nature without human intervention, one of these being the
water quality that has invaded their habitats. The decrease in this quality has been a big
factor in their decline. Another major factor is that since these plants have become
increasingly scarce their value has skyrocketed. This has made them prevalent among
Poaching groups. Their value has caused poachers to dig up natural plants, often killing
them or stopping them from growing further, leading to many of these carnivorous
plants being listed as vulnerable or endangered. As stated in an article written by Sarah
Zielinski, “more than half of the carnivorous plant species evaluated by the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are listed as either vulnerable, endangered
or critically endangered”. (Smithsonian, para 1). Even though these plants can be grown
in labs, it takes them many years to grow large enough to be considered valuable which
makes these plants even more enticing for poachers. With all, there are still actions that
can be taken to prevent the endangerment of these species such as creating an action
plan that establishes these habitats as conservations and creates laws that will prevent
agricultural actions from using harmful herbicides.
Carnivorous Plant Endangerment Factors

Destruction of Natural Habitats

Habitat loss is a major issue when it comes to Carnivorous plants. As humans expand
further into untouched land for the sake of development and agriculture it leads to the
destruction of Carnivorous plant ecosystems. This article states that “CPs exhibit highly
specialized and often very sensitive ecologies, being generally restricted to nutrient-
impoverished habitats where carnivory offers a competitive advantage.”. (ScienceDirect,
Para 1). These plants are considered sensitive and rely on specific types of water, food,
and habitat that humans have been slowly developing and taking away from the natural
plants. This destruction is leading to these plants losing a large part of the unique
ecosystems they rely on. This destruction disrupts their ability to thrive in their
environment and has led to a drastic decrease in their population. Shown in figure 1 is
an example of the wetlands that these plants reside in. Since many Carnivorous plants
live in wetlands, the clearing of this type of land is detrimental to the survival of these
plants. The clearing of this land, which often involves draining wetlands, destroys, and
disturbs the sensitive habitats that these plants dwell in. This not only kills many natural
and valuable plants but leaves the land dead and unfertile for many plants to come.

Figure 12: Wetlands that Carnivorous plants naturally grow in.

Water Pollution
Water pollution is another big threat to Carnivorous plants. This is because of the
sensitivity these plants have to specific minerals. Proven by an article by Tom Bennet
“Using hard water - including most tap water and bottled water - will cause your trumpet
pitchers to rapidly decline and eventually die..” (tomscarnivores, para 9). This pollution
directly corresponds to the plant's health and reproduction capabilities because almost
all the species of carnivorous plants live in some sort of wetland. As stated by a Science
Direct article “Many of the world's 860 species of CPs are found in wetland habitats,
which represent some of the most cleared and heavily degraded ecosystems on Earth.”
(ScienceDirect, para 1). With almost all species living in a wetland, , it's clear to see that
any issues with the water will devastate an entire population of these plants.
Shown in figure 2 is an example of what happens to plants when their water gets
polluted with harsh chemicals. With, one of the major sources of this pollution is
agricultural runoff, which includes pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers used in farming
that can often contaminate the wetlands in which these plants reside.

Figure 32: Carnivorous plant dying from water pollution.

Poaching
Due to the high value of natural carnivorous plants, poaching has been
considered one of the major causes of these plants near extinction. Although
these plants can be grown in controlled conditions their size and appearance
differ from that of a natural plant. Shown in figure 3 is how small these plants grow in
captivity. This scarcity has caused them to be highly sought after in illegal
tradetrade, which has caused a major decrease in their population. As stated in an
article by ScienceDirect, “Poaching now threatens 45 species of Nepenthes
(almost one-third of all species in the genus), including 13 that are CR, five that
are EN, and seven that are VU, and is the only recognized threat to 27 species.”.
While many species of carnivorous plants are being threatened, it is recognized
as one of the only threats for some of their species. Many species of carnivorous
plants are on the endangered species list but there is not much regulation for
these plants which has caused the trade to continue without check.

Figure 43: Carnivorous plants that are growing in a lab.

Conservation Solution
Due to the drastic decline in the population of carnivorous plants, there needs to be an
action plan that establishes these habitats as conservations and creates laws that will
prevent agricultural actions from using harmful herbicides. First, any dense Carnivorous
plant habitats will be maintained and categorized as conservation land. Secondly, since
these areas will be maintained by the government it will be easier to maintain the water
quality as that is another detrimental part of their survival. There should be stations that
monitor the water quality in dense plant areas since there are specific types of water
minerals and land that allow carnivorous plants to grow. This can be done with the use
of remote equipment or a person on duty who manages their habitat.

How we can fix their habitatsthe solution solves the

problem
While these plants are considered engendered and they are protected the laws are
flimsy when it comes to protecting them, so eEstablishing the wetlands and habitats
these plants reside in as conservation land would stop humans from developing further
into the crucial land these plants need for their survival. This can be done by bringing
these issues to the local or federal government and showing them the endangerment
these plants face. This can also be done Categorizingby getting them to categorize this
land these as conservation land which would prevent people from building and
destroying their natural habitats. As stated by the Endangered Species Act, “fined not
more than $ 50,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. Any person who
knowingly violates any provision of any other regulation issued under this Act shall,
upon conviction, be fined not more than $ 25,000 or imprisoned for not more than six
months, or both.” (FWS, para 4). This will also prevent poaching within these areas due
to the legality of going into conservation land and stealing anything. Since there are
unique specifications the water and land must meet to support the development of a
healthy carnivorous plant promoting the use of nonchemical pesticides, herbicides, and
fertilizers will help with the safety of these plants. Monitoring the water quality in dense
plant areas will allow us to track harsh pollutants in the water or if these areas are
gaining more pollutants. With this new information, it can help address issues before
they harm the actual plant allowing us to stop any more extinctions.
Conclusion
While carnivorous plants have been beloved in homes across the U.S., Many of their
species have been critically or at risk of being endangered for quite a while now. It is up
to us to make sure they stay around for years to come. There are few, but major issues
that strike the populations of carnivorous plants around the globe. These issues include
habitat loss, water pollution, and poaching. While these may seem like major issues
many simple fixes can be implemented to save their species such as protecting their
fragile habitats, managing the water quality, and stopping poaching.
References
Magazine, Smithsonian. “Back Away from the Carnivorous Plant!” Smithsonian.Com,
Smithsonian Institution, 11 Apr. 2011, www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/back-
away-from-the-carnivorous-plant-176740710/.

Author links open overlay panel Adam T. Cross a b, et al. “Conservation of Carnivorous
Plants in the Age of Extinction.” Global Ecology and Conservation, Elsevier, 10 Sept.
2020, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989420308131#:~:text=The
%20most%20common%20threatening%20processes%20identified%20for%20CP
%20species%20included,(126%20species)%2C%20and%20Biological.

Bennet, Tom. “Why Is My Pitcher Plant Dying or Turning Brown?” Tom’s Carnivores,
Tom’s Carnivores, 28 Aug. 2023, tomscarnivores.com/blog/why-is-my-pitcher-plant-dying-
or-turning-brown/.

“Section 11. Penalties and Enforcement: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.” FWS.Gov,
www.fws.gov/laws/endangered-species-act/section-11. Accessed 10 Nov. 2023.