Question

This plant is called Lilium iridollae. It is also known as the Pot-of-Gold lily. It grows along streams in wet pine woodlands and in pitcher plant bogs. The success of this endangered plant is dependent upon the periodic fires caused by lightning strikes in its habitat. How can this be explained?

Answer 1

These fires reduce competition from other plants and release nutrients and organic matter from burned peat moss and leaves into the acidic, nutrient-poor soil. Sensitivity to changes in drainage patterns and water quality make Lilium iridollae particularly vulnerable to disturbances in its ecosystem, such as overgrazing by livestock and urban development in nearby areas.

Answer 2

These fires start a process that results in the interference of water and soil quality, leaving Lilium iridollae extremely weak and sensitive.

Step-by-step explanation:

As you saw in the question above, Lillium iridollae is threatened with extinction due to periodic fires that occur naturally, caused by lightning. This is because these fires prevent new plants from appearing in this ecosystem and also cause the release of nutrients and organic matter, which ends up leaving the soil acidic and poor in nutrients. Because of this, Lillium iridollae ends up not receiving the nutrients necessary for its development from the soil and ends up getting weak. In addition, these fires end up interfering with water quality, which makes Lillium iridollae even weaker and very sensitive to any factor in the ecosystem that may interfere with its life cycle.