Are dry forest wetlands nutrient poor? If not, why are there carnivorous submergent macrophytes, such as Utricularia gibba,  and nodulated legumes (Neptunia prostrata)?

As I mentioned before, the Thalia is quite tall.  On the way to the fence, it peaks around 3 m high in waist deep water.  In other areas, there are points where the Thalia approaches 4 m and is incredible difficult to pass through.

Again, much of the Thalia has been consumed by a moth larva (the moths themselves emerge around dusk and fly across the wetland by the millions!).  What is left by the larva are stems and razor sharp, pointed ‘leaves’.  Essentially, all that remains of the leaves is the center, supporting vein.  Whole leaves look similar to banana leaves.  It’s interesting that this defoliation is occurring at flower/seed set for the plants.  As Mark pointed out, what implications does this have for the recruitment?  I haven’t encountered any untouched plants, but it would be interesting to see if seeds are more numerous or weigh more (or something along those ‘fecundity’ lines).  The plant is perennial too, and I wonder if the herbivory influences underground energy storage and likelihood that an individual will survive to the next season.