Biology / Unit 11 Bio 2595 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Insect Prey Supplements Nitrogen, Not Energy
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The idea
A carnivorous plant's insect prey supplies nitrogen it cannot obtain from boggy, nutrient-poor soil, per Bio 2591, while its energy still comes from photosynthesis, per Bio 0579.
In practice
A digested insect's nitrogen builds proteins the plant could not synthesize from its low-nitrogen soil.
Where people slip
"Carnivorous plants eat instead of photosynthesizing," per Bio 2593, conflates a supplementary nitrogen source with the plant's unchanged energy source.
Your place on the trail
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