gs1medium
Some species of plants are insectivorous. Why?
- A.Their growth in shady and dark places does not allow them to undertake sufficient photosynthesis and thus they depend on insects for nutrition
- B.They are adapted to grow in nitrogen deficient soils and thus depend on insects for sufficient nitrogenous nutrition
- C.They cannot synthesize certain vitamins themselves and depend on the insects digested by them
- D.They have remained in that particular stage of evolution as living fossils, a link between autotrophs and heterotrophs
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: B. They are adapted to grow in nitrogen deficient soils and thus depend on insects for sufficient nitrogenous nutrition
Insectivorous plants typically inhabit nutrient-poor environments, especially those deficient in nitrogen. Their leaves are modified into traps to capture insects, which supplement their nutrient intake, particularly nitrogen, that they cannot obtain sufficiently from the soil. This adaptation allows them to thrive in otherwise inhospitable conditions.
Source: UPSC gs1 2010