Predation and Light as Determinants of Vegetative Growth and Reproductive Success in the Carnivorous Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia purpurea

The broad ecological range and population of Sarracenia purpurea are being reduced due to climate change and human encroachment. These iconic plants rely on both photosynthesis and carnivory, however the relationship between these two factors and their individual effect on growth and reproduction is unknown. With the constant threat that these fragile plants are under, it is very important that conservation efforts by plant sanctuaries, reserves, and national parks are provided with the most accurate data to implement updated care guidelines and ensure the longevity and protection of carnivorous plants. My research exposes plants to bright or dim light while being fed or starved, and experiments were run in real environmental time, conducted over all four seasons. Plants were held in an environmentally controlled room programmed to provide daily annual light and temperature of the Gulf Coast of the Florida Panhandle and Alabama. Independent weekly censuses were conducted over the course of a year, as well as data collection of leaf widths, volumes, meristems, flowers, dry masses, and anthocyanin levels. This large data collection and calibration period provided the basis for which the independent effects of light and predation on both growth and reproductive successes could be resolved. My research findings show that reproductive success of S. purpurea is promoted by access to adequate and non-obstructed light, where they are protected from UV damage by light-induced anthocyanins, whereas plant vegetative production is determined by access to prey