News Archive

By Sophie Cross

For most people, the idea of a carnivorous plant belongs in science fiction.

But for some plants carnivory is very real. Possibly the world's most unique and least known of these, Aldrovanda vesiculosa , can be found in the remote Kimberley region.

Drawn to this mysterious species is PhD candidate Adam Cross.

Most people have probably heard of a carnivorous plant called the Venus flytrap, which captures insects between a pair of lobe-like jaws at the end of each leaf. Aldrovanda is essentially an aquatic Venus Flytrap.

"Aldrovanda is the only plant to have ever evolved underwater snap trap carnivory, and is the only surviving species in an evolutionary lineage dating back over 55 million years.  it's the only species of its kind," said Adam who is supervised by Professor Kingsley Dixon, Dr David Merritt, Dr Shane Turner, Dr Matthew Barrett, and Assistant Professor Michael Renton.

He has uncovered some amazing results while studying the biology of Aldrovanda . "Despite being distributed across four continents, from Southern Australia to North Russia, and from Western France to Japan, Aldrovanda is genetically uniform; every single plant is, essentially, the same individual."

Although found throughout the world, the survival of this species is in critical danger. Adam says that Aldrovanda could be extinct in the next 20 years if significant conservation efforts are not  put in place. " Aldrovanda populations have declined by 90 per cent worldwide over the past hundred years. We're seeing huge declines in all populations, except for those in remote and mainly inaccessible areas such as the Kimberley."

Adam has already documented the decline and subsequent extinction of the southernmost population in Esperance. "Though this population was only discovered in 2004 after road development near the site, the species was gone only two years later."

The cause of the decline is the same as for many other species threatened with extinction: human activity. Wetlands are extremely sensitive ecosystems, and are among the first habitats to disappear following human disturbances such as agricultural development and urbanisation.

For a species only found in wetland regions, this is having a huge negative impact on Aldrovanda populations.

The species is in such a perilous condition that Adam has been successful in having it placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, a big step in the right direction for conservation efforts.

The Kimberley is an area of refuge for Aldrovanda and is virtually pristine and untouched by humans. If the decline in habitat in the rest of the world continues, the Kimberley could hold the last remaining populations. Studies in the Kimberley are imperative to understanding, and preventing further decline of this fascinating plant.