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New Discoveries with Venus Fly Traps
- Details
- Written by charlie
- Category: Wetland Plants
One of the worlds most recognized plants, the Venus flytrap still amazes. It's carnivorous appetite, an adaptation to nutrient poor bog soil, is well known, but recently discovered was the plants ability to "count". To reduce false alarms, the flytraps sensory trigger hairs do not immediately fire when disturbed, but like any good predator, will wait until the hair is jiggled more than once, ensuring that a meal, and not a stray breeze, snaps the jaws closed. Considering the plant has been studies for centuries, its surprising that its common sense approach to minimizing false alarms hadn't been previously discovered.
Watch a video here
Long Island Sound Tidal Wetlands Loss Workshop Newsletter
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- Written by charlie
- Category: Plants and Wildlife
I came across the Spring 2015 issue of Sound Update focuses on the topics that were discussed at the 2014 Long Island Sound Tidal Wetlands Loss Workshop on October 22-23, 2014 in Port Jefferson, NY.
The articles summarize the following workshops and related research on:
- Topic 1: Wetland Submergence
- Topic 2: Ecological Indicators of Wetland Change
- Topic 3: Wetland Elevation Changes
- Topic 4: Marsh Migration
- Topic 5: Tidal Wetlands Trends and Conditions Assessment
Submergence is the gradual conversion of tall smooth cordgrass in the low marsh to mudflat. In coastal Connecticut and Long Island, the low marsh zone consisting largely of Spartina alterniflora, has been converting to mudflats over the last 30 years in many areas. There have been many proposed explanations, including climate change, the effects of excessive nitrogen curtailing root growth which in turn weakens the structure that keep the muck and peat bound together.
Also discussed is Sudden vegetation dieback (SVD) also found in the low marsh area, and identified by the loss of vegetation over a number of years with limited regrowth, likely the result of multiple stressors including the purple marsh crab.
The newsletter is a great introduction to the wetland science and challenges faced by wetlands in the Long Island Sound.
World Wetlands Day - 2016
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- Written by charlie
- Category: Other
Today, February 2nd is World Wetlands Day! I had originally planned to roll out a fresh version of the website, but haven't completed it yet, so I'll just leave this here, the home of Ramsars World Wetland Day, World Wetlands Day
Wetlands in the News
03 April 2025
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‘Helping inform and inspire:’ Visitor center officially opens at popular Orlando Wetlands
The long-awaited visitor center at the Orlando Wetlands is finally open, according to a news release from the city.
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See where Micron plans new wetlands to replace those destroyed by Clay chip plant
Micron Technology’s planned chipmaking plant in the town of Clay could destroy more than 200 acres of wetlands and over a mile of streams. Micron will be required under state and federal law to...
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Iowa landowner's lawsuit taking aim at longstanding wetlands rule could have sweeping effect
Federal suit over Iowa land looks to strike down one of the few conservation requirements farmers must meet to qualify for federal support.
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Housing plan moves closer after wetlands approved
The building of more than 700 homes to the western half of the site, between the A358 Staplegrove Road and Taunton Road, is due to start shortly, while the wetlands will be create...
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'Human-caused': Clark County fire officials expect Wetlands Park brush fire to be fully contained Wednesday
Clark County fire officials said the blaze was "human-caused" but details are still preliminary as the Bureau of Land Management continue their investigation.