Relationship between types of prey captured and growth form in <i>Drosera</i> in southwestern Australia

Verbeek, Nicolaas A. M.; Boasson, Rosalinda

doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.1993.tb00444.x

Cited by 22 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Gluing seems to be the best way to capture prey with such escape capabilities, as it has been evolved in parallel in different springtail predators. For example, some carnivorous plants of the genus Drosera capture springtails with gluey mucilage, secreted by hair-like structures (Verbeek and Boasson, 1993). This glue exhibits rheological behaviour quite similar to that of the harvestman pedipalpal setae studied by us (Erni et al, 2011).…”

Section: Research Articlementioning

confidence: 89%

Gluing the ‘unwettable’: soil-dwelling harvestmen use viscoelastic fluids for capturing springtails

Wolff

Schönhofer

Schaber

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Gluing can be a highly efficient mechanism of prey capture, as it should require less complex sensory-muscular feedback. Whereas it is well known in insects, this mechanism is much less studied in arachnids, except spiders. Soil-dwelling harvestmen (Opiliones, Nemastomatidae) bear drumstick-like glandular hairs (clavate setae) at their pedipalps, which were previously hypothesized to be sticky and used in prey capture. However, clear evidence for this was lacking to date. Using high-speed videography, we found that the harvestman Mitostoma chrysomelas was able to capture fast-moving springtails (Collembola) just by a slight touch of the pedipalp. Adhesion of single clavate setae increased proportionally with pulloff velocity, from 1 μN at 1 μm s −1 up to 7 μN at 1 mm s −1 , which corresponds to the typical weight of springtails. Stretched glue droplets exhibited characteristics of a viscoelastic fluid forming beadson-a-string morphology over time, similar to spider capture threads and the sticky tentacles of carnivorous plants. These analogies indicate that viscoelasticity is a highly efficient mechanism for prey capture, as it holds stronger the faster the struggling prey moves. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy of snap-frozen harvestmen with glued springtails revealed that the gluey secretions have a high affinity to wet the microstructured cuticle of collembolans, which was previously reported to be barely wettable for both polar and non-polar liquids. Glue droplets can be contaminated with the detached scaly setae of collembolans, which may represent a counter-adaptation against entrapment by the glue, similar to the scaly surfaces of Lepidoptera and Trichoptera (Insecta) facilitating escape from spider webs.

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Section: Research Articlementioning

confidence: 89%

Gluing the ‘unwettable’: soil-dwelling harvestmen use viscoelastic fluids for capturing springtails

Wolff

Schönhofer

Schaber

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…To inform prey size classes for the autotomy experiment, preliminary field observations of in situ prey capture were undertaken for 58 D. collina individuals at a location in the Jarrah Forest east of Perth, Western Australia (GPS), in July 2017. Observations indicated that this species captured a similar spectrum of prey to that recorded previously for the closely related D. erythrorhiza (Dixon, Pate & Bailey, ; Verbeek & Boasson, ), predominantly small arthropods ranging from 1 mm to 1 cm in length (Table ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Cross

Bateman

2018

Journal of Zoology

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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.

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“…Verbeek & Boasson (1993) found that the height above ground and the growth form of the capturing leaves influenced the types of prey caught in sympatrically growing Drosera species with different arrangement of adhesive traps, including rosette forms, climbers and upright, self‐supporting species. Prostrate species caught mainly walking, non‐aerial prey while self‐supporting and climbing species caught predominantly aerial prey (Verbeek & Boasson, 1993). Similarly, a trend towards specialization in prey composition in the genus Sarracenia , the North American pitcher plant, has been noted by several authors (Juniper et al , 1989 and references therein).…”

Section: Mechanisms To Reduce Pollinator‐prey Overlapmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollinator‐prey conflict in carnivorous plants

et al. 2011

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Most carnivorous plants utilize insects in two ways: the flowers attract insects as pollen vectors for sexual reproduction, and the leaves trap insects for nutrients. Feeding on insects has been explained as an adaptation to nutrient-poor soil, and carnivorous plants have been shown to benefit from insect capture through increased growth, earlier flowering and increased seed production. Most carnivorous plant species seem to benefit from insect pollination, although many species autonomously self-pollinate and some propagate vegetatively. However, assuming that outcross pollen is advantageous and is a more important determinant of reproductive success than the nutrients gained from prey, there should be a selective pressure on carnivorous plants not to feed on their potential pollen vectors. Therefore, it has been suggested that carnivorous plants are subject to a conflict, often called the pollinator-prey conflict (PPC). The conflict results from a trade-off of the benefits from feeding on potentially pollinating insects versus the need to use them as pollen vectors for sexual reproduction. In this review we analyze the conditions under which a PPC may occur, review the evidence for the existence of PPCs in carnivorous plants, and explore the mechanisms that may be in place to prevent or alleviate a PPC. With respect to the latter, we discuss how plant signals such as olfactory and visual cues may play a role in separating the functions of pollinator attraction and prey capture.

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Relationship between types of prey captured and growth form in Drosera in southwestern Australia

Cited by 22 publications

References 3 publications

Gluing the ‘unwettable’: soil-dwelling harvestmen use viscoelastic fluids for capturing springtails

Gluing the ‘unwettable’: soil-dwelling harvestmen use viscoelastic fluids for capturing springtails

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

Pollinator‐prey conflict in carnivorous plants

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