Systematics and evolution of Droseraceae

Bateman

2018

Journal of Zoology

Autotomy, the voluntary shedding of body parts, is a strategy employed by many organisms to evade predation and escape entanglement. Although this strategy may allow an individual to survive one threat encounter it can come at significant cost, with studies indicating that autotomized individuals exhibit reduced fitness and increased susceptibility to active predators. However, little is known about the interplay between autotomy state and passive predation risk. We explored this interaction experimentally using prey of different size and autotomy state (laboratory‐raised crickets) exposed to a sessile predator (the carnivorous plant Drosera collina). Data indicated a strong relationship between capture likelihood and autotomy state, with capture likelihood increasing from 6% in intact crickets (those retaining both hind legs) to 31% in single autotomized and 44% in double autotomized individuals. A weaker, though still strong, relationship was observed between capture likelihood and prey size, with smaller crickets (7–32 mg) paying a markedly greater cost for limb loss than larger crickets (100–280 mg). Capture likelihood for small crickets after single‐ or double‐autotomy was increased by 56 and 72% respectively compared to intact individuals, while this risk only increased by 2 and 13% respectively for large crickets. Our results further highlight the costs of autotomy to fitness and the long‐term survival of individuals, suggesting not only that this strategy may markedly increase the susceptibility of organisms to future passive predation but also that the cost is higher for earlier ontogenetic stages.

“…Ergaleium, the most diverse group within the genus (ca. 70 species; Fleischmann et al, 2018). Drosera collina is a tuberous rosetted perennial ( Fig.…”

Section: Study Site and Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

How dangerous is a Drosera? Limb autotomy increases passive predation risk in crickets

Bateman

2018

Journal of Zoology

“…Drosera Linnaeus (1753: 281) (Droseraceae Salisb., non-core Caryophyllales (APG IV 2016)) is a genus of herbaceous carnivorous plants and the largest carnivorous plant genus in the world, with a cosmopolitan distribution of approximately 250 species, of which ca. 110 are endemic to SW Australia alone (APG IV 2016, Fleischmann et al 2018. The majority of Drosera species are hemicryptophytic perennials that produce inflorescences in the form of simple scorpioid cymes (Diels 1906, Fleischmann et al 2018.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new pygmy sundew, Drosera albonotata (Droseraceae), from the western Wheatbelt and an updated diagnostic key to the orange-flowered pygmy Drosera of Western Australia

Robinson

Meisterl³

et al. 2018

Phytotaxa

Self Cite

A new species of Drosera—Drosera albonotata—from the western Wheatbelt (Western Australia) is described and illustrated. The taxon, which is largely restricted to sandy clay loam soils in Wandoo woodland and shrubland, is morphologically similar to D. miniata and D. coomallo but can be distinguished by its distinct floral features and ecology. A distribution map of the new species and its allies and a revised and updated diagnostic key to the twelve recognised orange-flowered pygmy Drosera in Western Australia are provided.

Plastome-Wide Rearrangements and Gene Losses in Carnivorous Droseraceae

Nevill

Howell

Genome Biology and Evolution

et al. 2019

The plastid genomes of four related carnivorous plants (Drosera regia, Drosera erythrorhiza, Aldrovanda vesiculosa, and Dionaea muscipula) were sequenced to examine changes potentially induced by the transition to carnivory. The plastid genomes of the Droseraceae show multiple rearrangements, gene losses, and large expansions or contractions of the inverted repeat. All the ndh genes are lost or nonfunctional, as well as in some of the species, clpP1, ycf1, ycf2 and some tRNA genes. Uniquely, among land plants, the trnK gene has no intron. Carnivory in the Droseraceae coincides with changes in plastid gene content similar to those induced by parasitism and mycoheterotrophy, suggesting parallel changes in chloroplast function due to the similar switch from autotrophy to (mixo-) heterotrophy. A molecular phylogeny of the taxa based on all shared plastid genes indicates that the “snap-traps” of Aldrovanda and Dionaea have a common origin.