Termite Prey Specialization in the Pitcher Plant Nepenthes albomarginata—Evidence from Stable Isotope Analysis

Moran, Jonathan A.; Merbach, Marlis A.; Livingston, N. J.; Clarke, Charles; Booth, W. E.

doi:10.1006/anbo.2001.1460

Cited by 67 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…However the digestive fluid of Cephalotus contains 5 times lower amount of acid proteinase than fluid samples from Nepenthes alata (Takahashi et al 2009). Nepenthes mirabilis, N. albomarginata, and N. rafflesiana obtained 61.5, 53.8, and 61.8% of nitrogen from prey, respectively; C. follicularis only 26% (Schulze et al 1997, Moran et al 2001). On the other hand, C. follicularis take up much more trace elements like iron, manganese and pottasium in comparison to Sarracenia purpurea and Heliamphora nutans (Adlassnig et al 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Photosynthetic characterization of Australian pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis

Pavlovič¹

2011

Photosynt.

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Australian carnivorous pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis Labill. produces two types of leaves. During the spring time, the plant produces a foliage type of noncarnivorous leaf called lamina. Later, the second type of leaf is producedcarnivorous pitcher. Using simultaneous measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence photosynthetic efficiency of these two distinct forms of leaves were compared. In addition stomatal density, an important component of gas exchange, and Chl concentration were also determined. Pitcher trap had lower net photosynthetic rate (P N ) in comparison to noncarnivorous lamina, whereas the rate of respiration (R D ) was not significantly different. This was in accordance with lower stomatal density and Chl concentration in the pitcher trap. On the other hand maximum quantum yield of PSII (F v /F m ) and effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PSII (Φ PSII ) was not significantly different. Nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) was significantly higher in the lamina at higher irradiance. These data are in accordance with hypothesis that changing the leaf shape in carnivorous plants to make it a better trap generally makes it less efficient at photosynthesis. However, the pitcher of Cephalotus had much higher P N than it was expected from the data set of the genus Nepenthes. Because it is not possible to optimize for contrasting function such as photosynthesis and carnivory, it is hypothesized that Cephalotus pitchers are less elaborated for carnivorous function than the pitchers of Nepenthes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Photosynthetic characterization of Australian pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis

Pavlovič¹

2011

Photosynt.

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“…Adam, 1997; Clarke, 1997 b ; Moran et al , 2001). Some species growing in habitats with low arthropod densities have even evolved adaptations to obtain nutrients from mammalian faeces (Clarke et al , 2009; Chin et al , 2010; Grafe et al , 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for alternative trapping strategies in two forms of the pitcher plant, Nepenthes rafflesiana

Bauer

Grafe

Federle

2011

Journal of Experimental Botany

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Nepenthes pitchers are specialized leaves that function as insect traps. Several pitcher components may contribute to trapping, including the pitcher fluid, slippery wax crystals and downward-pointing epidermal cells on the inner pitcher wall, and the wetness-dependent pitcher rim (peristome), but the relative importance of these traits is unclear. Mechanisms of prey capture and retention in the field were investigated by quantifying the effect of ‘knock-out’ manipulations of individual pitcher structures, and by testing the ability of pitcher fluids and water to retain insects. Two forms of Nepenthes rafflesiana Jack (‘elongate’ and ‘typical’) with contrasting combinations of pitcher traits were compared. Wax crystals on the inner pitcher wall were found to be the most important trapping structure in the elongate form, whereas the typical form relied primarily on the peristome. The pitcher fluids of both forms, differing markedly in the degree of viscoelasticity, retained significantly more ants than water. The present results show that pitcher plants utilize several mechanisms for prey capture and retention, varying in efficiency and relative importance between forms. It is proposed that these differences represent alternative prey capture strategies that may provide a mechanism to reduce competition and facilitate species co-existence in nutrient-limited habitats.

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“…This is possible because various morphological and geometric characteristics of Nepenthes pitchers play important roles in trap function or specialised methods of nutrient acquisition, and some of these roles have only recently been elucidated. For instance, in N. albomarginata T.Lobb ex Lindl., a unique pitcher characteristic, which takes the form of a dense, tomentose band that lines the pitcher orifice, enables this species to target termites as a major source of prey (Moran et al 2001, Merbach Incorporating ecological context: a revised protocol for the preservation of Nepenthes pitcher plant specimens (Nepenthaceae) Moran et al 2002). Some other species appear to have evolved away from a strictly carnivorous mode of supplementary nutrition, with N. ampullaria Jack and N. lowii Hook.f.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Incorporating ecological context: a revised protocol for the preservation of <I>Nepenthes</I> pitcher plant specimens (<I>Nepenthaceae</I>)

Clarke¹,

Moran²

2011

Blum - J Plant Tax and Plant Geog

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Termite Prey Specialization in the Pitcher Plant Nepenthes albomarginata—Evidence from Stable Isotope Analysis

Cited by 67 publications

References 36 publications

Photosynthetic characterization of Australian pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis

Photosynthetic characterization of Australian pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis

Evidence for alternative trapping strategies in two forms of the pitcher plant, Nepenthes rafflesiana

Incorporating ecological context: a revised protocol for the preservation of <I>Nepenthes</I> pitcher plant specimens (<I>Nepenthaceae</I>)

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