Last week, our Conservation team was in the field near Wilmington, NC, collecting data for a project studying the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) — an iconic but rare plant found in the fire-dependent longleaf pine savannas of coastal North and South Carolina.

These unique ecosystems support an incredible diversity of plants, many of which rely on frequent prescribed fire to maintain the open, sunny conditions they need to thrive. In collaboration with researchers at Kansas State University and Duke University, we’re studying how changing climate conditions and fire management influence Venus flytrap populations and the broader plant community. Using experimental climate chambers, we’re simulating future environmental conditions, including warmer temperatures and drier soils, to better understand how these ecosystems may respond to climate change. By monitoring both rare and common plant species, our goal is to provide land managers with science-based recommendations for conserving these habitats and the species that depend on them. This research is supported by a Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice grant, jointly funded by Allen Family Philanthropies and the National Science Foundation.