Aspects of Pitcher Morphology and Spectral Characteristics of Six BorneanNepenthesPitcher Plant Species: Implications for Prey Capture

Moran, Jonathan A.; Booth, W. E.; Charles, Joseph K.

doi:10.1006/anbo.1999.0857

Cited by 93 publications

(108 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…1,2 Typical Nepenthes pitchers are tubular/ovoid in shape, with an opening at the top, surrounded by the peristome (the collar-shaped structure surrounding the pitcher mouth), and a lid situated above. Prey fall into these pitchers under gravity.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of light in prey capture by the tropical pitcher plantNepenthes aristolochioides

Moran

Clarke

Gowen

2012

Plant Signaling & Behavior

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of light in prey capture by the tropical pitcher plantNepenthes aristolochioides

Moran

Clarke

Gowen

2012

Plant Signaling & Behavior

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“…According to Moran (1999), insects are attracted to pitcher plants because of their nectar secretions and coloration. The slippery rim (peristome) and inner walls of the pitcher caused insects to fall into the digestive fluid at the bottom of the trap.…”

Section: Relationship Between Plants and Inquilinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ants are found to be the major prey group in all pitcher species, accounting for over 58.82% (Table 3) of the total prey in the traps. There were two main components contributing to this ant-specialization, namely the nectar source and an apparently efficient trapping mechanism (Moran 1999). Ants are highly attracted to sugar, which are present in high concentration in the form of nectar.…”

Section: Comparative Efficiency In Trapping Antsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ants are highly attracted to sugar, which are present in high concentration in the form of nectar. Nepenthes gracilis provided efficient pitfall traps in trapping prey besides being attractive to invertebrates (Juniper et al1989;Moran 1999). The peristomes which are normally depicted as far from being a slippery perch, sometimes provides a remarkably safe platform from which creatures can feed at the marginal glands.…”

Section: Comparative Efficiency In Trapping Antsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research have suggested that mucilage secreted by external glands around the door and the sweet fragrant produced by N. rafflesiana may act as attractant for its prey (Lloyd 1942;Moran 1999). According to Protocor (1999), differences in prey catchability could lead to either over-representation or under-representation in the trap fauna.…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Selectivity In Nepenthes Pitchermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fauna Diversity in Pitcher Plants at Setiam Hill, Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia

Marina¹,

Keen²,

Caroline³

et al. 2018

JSM

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Different pitcher shapes and trapping syndromes explain resource partitioning inNepenthesspecies

Gaume

Bazile

Huguin

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Nepenthes pitcher plants display interspecific diversity in pitcher form and diets. This species‐rich genus might be a conspicuous candidate for an adaptive radiation. However, the pitcher traits of different species have never been quantified in a comparative study, nor have their possible adaptations to the resources they exploit been tested. In this study, we compare the pitcher features and prey composition of the seven Nepenthes taxa that grow in the heath forest of Brunei (Borneo) and investigate whether these species display different trapping syndromes that target different prey. The Nepenthes species are shown to display species‐specific combinations of pitcher shapes, volumes, rewards, attraction and capture traits, and different degrees of ontogenetic pitcher dimorphism. The prey spectra also differ among plant species and between ontogenetic morphotypes in their combinations of ants, flying insects, termites, and noninsect guilds. According to a discriminant analysis, the Nepenthes species collected at the same site differ significantly in prey abundance and composition at the level of order, showing niche segregation but with varying degrees of niche overlap according to pairwise species comparisons. Weakly carnivorous species are first characterized by an absence of attractive traits. Generalist carnivorous species have a sweet odor, a wide pitcher aperture, and an acidic pitcher fluid. Guild specializations are explained by different combinations of morpho‐functional traits. Ant captures increase with extrafloral nectar, fluid acidity, and slippery waxy walls. Termite captures increase with narrowness of pitchers, presence of a rim of edible trichomes, and symbiotic association with ants. The abundance of flying insects is primarily correlated with pitcher conicity, pitcher aperture diameter, and odor presence. Such species‐specific syndromes favoring resource partitioning may result from local character displacement by competition and/or previous adaptations to geographically distinct environments.

show abstract

Aspects of Pitcher Morphology and Spectral Characteristics of Six BorneanNepenthesPitcher Plant Species: Implications for Prey Capture

Cited by 93 publications

References 21 publications

The use of light in prey capture by the tropical pitcher plantNepenthes aristolochioides

The use of light in prey capture by the tropical pitcher plantNepenthes aristolochioides

Fauna Diversity in Pitcher Plants at Setiam Hill, Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia

Different pitcher shapes and trapping syndromes explain resource partitioning inNepenthesspecies

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