The carnivorous plants are, in a real sense, the nutrient-import mechanism for an ecosystem that has effectively no soil-based nutrient source.

This understanding changes how you see the carnivorous plants.

They are not strange or grotesque deviations from normal plant function — they are precisely and elegantly adapted to the specific constraints of their environment.

They are doing exactly what any well-designed organism does: solving the problem at hand.

The Clouds As Ecosystem Component

The clouds that wrap Roraima’s summit so frequently are not just a visual feature.

They are a functional component of the summit ecosystem, and understanding their role adds another layer to the picture of how the summit works.