Carnivorous Plants piece in LA TIMES

[Michael]

In response to the recent press on the Sarracenia and Heavy Metal research, Amina Khan at the LA Times did a brief piece on CPs:

CARNIVOROUS PLANTS' DIETS MAY BE A DANGER
"Eating insects that contain high levels of trace metals can hinder growth for North American pitcher plants, a study finds. One expert says habitat loss is still the plants' biggest threat..."

It helps raise awareness and spread the conservation message! This is Good Press -- Especially since the piece was picked up by a number of papers around the U.S.

The article can be found at:
LA Times (ran a shorter version)
articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/09/science/la-sci-carnivore-plants10-2010apr10

Other papers ran a slightly longer version:
www.sacbee.com/2010/04/09/2667481/pollutants-in-insects-may-be-killing.html
www.therepublic.com/view/story/SCI-PLANTS_2100688/SCI-PLANTS_2100688/

If you have a moment -- send a thank you note to the author for helping raise awareness about CP conservation!

Happy Trails, Mike

[Brian Barnes]

Hey Mike,

Wonderful news! Every little bit truly does help to spread the message. I shall be sending the author a letter of appreciation.

Happy Growing,

Brian Barnes,
ICPS Director of Conservation.

[ICPS-bob]

There was a slight misinterpretation of my interview -- I did not particularly praise the study. I actually said that it was an interesting academic study that might have some limited applicability to explaining the decline of CP populations. Then I explained to the writer that habitat loss and modification, invasion by exotic plants and animals, poaching, human constraints on natural processes (fire, flood, drainage pattern, groundwater), etc are orders of magnitude more responsible for CP decline than cadmium contamination of bugs (which probably would rank near the bottom of the list of threats). My experience with journalists is that sometimes they get it right, sometimes they miss the point, sometimes they just flat-out get it wrong.

[Brian Barnes]

That's true Bob.

Lord only knows what the great Media Machine will spit out.
But at least you did plant a positive seed...to a seemingly willing listening ear... ;D

Thanks!

Brian.