Prey spectra of aquatic Utricularia species (Lentibulariaceae) in northeastern Germany: The role of planktonic algae

Alkhalaf, Imad Aldeen; Hübener, Thomas; Porembski, Stefan

doi:10.1016/j.flora.2008.09.008

Cited by 42 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…We observed more than 60 successive spontaneous suctions during this time span, assuming that tiny swimming organisms like algae are not capable of triggering the mechanism [30]. Traps activate on average at time intervals between 5 and 20 h (electronic supplementary material, figure S2 and movie S2).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Ultra-fast underwater suction traps

et al. 2011

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Carnivorous aquatic Utricularia species catch small prey animals using millimetre-sized underwater suction traps, which have fascinated scientists since Darwin's early work on carnivorous plants. Suction takes place after mechanical triggering and is owing to a release of stored elastic energy in the trap body accompanied by a very fast opening and closing of a trapdoor, which otherwise closes the trap entrance watertight. The exceptional trapping speed-far above human visual perception-impeded profound investigations until now. Using high-speed video imaging and special microscopy techniques, we obtained fully time-resolved recordings of the door movement. We found that this unique trapping mechanism conducts suction in less than a millisecond and therefore ranks among the fastest plant movements known. Fluid acceleration reaches very high values, leaving little chance for prey animals to escape. We discovered that the door deformation is morphologically predetermined, and actually performs a buckling/unbuckling process, including a complete trapdoor curvature inversion. This process, which we predict using dynamical simulations and simple theoretical models, is highly reproducible: the traps are autonomously repetitive as they fire spontaneously after 5 -20 h and reset actively to their ready-to-catch condition.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Ultra-fast underwater suction traps

et al. 2011

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“…Other authors who also studied algae in Utricularia traps likewise did not record stomatocysts inside them (e.g. Peroutka et al 2008;Sirová et al 2009;Alkhalaf et al 2009Alkhalaf et al , 2011Płachno et al 2012). However, stomatocysts were recorded inside traps of other carnivorous plants from the genus Genlisea (Płachno & Wołowski, 2008).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Utricularia traps are not only lethal to some organisms (Adamec 2007(Adamec , 2011, but also form micro-environments in which other organisms can function and proliferate (Richards 2001, Sirova et al 2009. Algae are among such organisms often occurring in bladderwort traps (Gordon and Pacheco 2007;Alkhalaf et al 2009Alkhalaf et al , 2011Wołowski et al 2011;Płachno et al 2012). Some algae living inside Utricularia traps release digestive enzymes into the trap (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chrysophycean stomatocysts associated with the carnivorous plants (genus Utricularia) from Jeleniak-Mikuliny Nature Reserve

Wołowski¹,

Piątek²,

Płachno

2013

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

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An account is given of chrysophycean stomatocysts and algae occurring together with the carnivorous plants known as bladderworts, Utricularia intermedia, U. minor and U. australis, in the peat bog of Jeleniak-Mikuliny Nature Reserve. Eleven chrysophycean stomatocyst morphotypes were found, all reported for the first time from this nature reserve. Among them, two are new records for Europe (stomatocysts 330 and 208) and another two are new for Poland (stomatocysts 112 and 387). Descriptions are provided together with SEM illustrations. General data about cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae occurring with these stomatocysts are enumerated.

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“…In spite of its tiny volume, the trap fluid in Utricularia plants is inhabited permanently by various commensal microorganismsbacteria, cyanobacteria, microfungi, algae, euglens, dinophytes, protozoa (ciliates) and rotifers-which live in a mutualistic interaction with the plant. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] These organisms enter the originally sterile traps from the immediate ambient environment, propagate inside the traps and take part in prey decomposition. Quite recently, evidence for the formation of a miniature food web has been provided in two Belizean Utricularia species.…”

Section: Food Web Inside the Trapsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The smallest but fastest

Adamec

2011

Plant Signaling & Behavior

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Prey spectra of aquatic Utricularia species (Lentibulariaceae) in northeastern Germany: The role of planktonic algae

Cited by 42 publications

References 20 publications

Ultra-fast underwater suction traps

Ultra-fast underwater suction traps

Chrysophycean stomatocysts associated with the carnivorous plants (genus Utricularia) from Jeleniak-Mikuliny Nature Reserve

The smallest but fastest

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