The Cobra Lily (Darlingtonia californica) is a carnivorous plant native to the serpentine fens of Northern California. Serpentine soils are highly acidic, waterlogged, and extremely deficient in essential inorganic nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. To survive in these harsh conditions, the Cobra Lily has developed specialized tubular leaves that trap and digest foraging insects.
Describe how you could estimate the population size of Cobra Lilies in a defined area of a serpentine fen.
Suggest and explain how digesting insect prey helps the Cobra Lily to grow and survive in soil with very low concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus.