Utricularia: a vegetarian carnivorous plant?

Abstract

Aquatic carnivorous plants of the genus Utricularia capture and utilise a wide range of small aquatic organisms. Most of the literature focuses on animals as prey. In this study, we investigate the occurrence of algae inside the traps of four species of bladderwort. We observed that algae of 45 genera form up to 80% of the total prey; algae were found frequently in traps without animal prey. The majority are coccal and trichal algae of the families Desmidiaceae and Zygnemataceae. The percentage of algae increases significantly with decreasing electric conductivity of the water (r S = -0.417; P = 0,000). Thus, algae are the most frequent prey in extremely soft waters. The percentage of algae did not differ significantly, not within the investigated Utricularia species or within the various study sites. However, the taxonomic composition of the algal prey showed highly significant differences between different sites. More than 90% of the trapped algae were killed and degraded by the bladders. The recent data allow for two alternative hypotheses: either algal prey supplements animal prey in oligotrophic waters, or the unprofitable trapping of algae is rather an additional stress factor for Utricularia and contributes to its limited distribution in some peat bogs.

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

“…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).…”

“…Carnivorous plants form an ecological group of plants that trap and consume invertebrates (mainly insects and crustaceans) as well as small vertebrates, protozoa and algae (Juniper et al 1989, Peroutka et al 2008, Król et al 2012. Studies continue to extend the range of angiosperm families where the carnivorous syndrome has been reported (e.g.…”

The role of phytoplankton in the diet of the bladderwort Utricularia australis R.Br. (Lentibulariaceae)

“…(Płachno et al, 2006;Sirová, Adamec, & Vrba, 2003) is likely to play an important role in the microbial loop within the trap lumen and in overall nutrient acquisition by Utricularia. In all, it seems that vegetarian or detritivorous modes of nutrition may dominate over true carnivory in Utricularia growing in nutrient-poor waters with low prey availability (Alkhalaf, Hübner, & Porembski, 2009;Peroutka et al, 2008).…”

“…Spontaneous firings could explain how phytoplankton or detritus enters traps even when no animal prey species is present (Adamec, 2011b;Koller-Peroutka, Lendl, Watzka, & Adlassnig, 2015;Peroutka et al, 2008). This phenomenon suggests that these plants are either inefficient in capturing animal prey or do not solely require animal prey in natural conditions (Gordon & Pacheco, 2007;Richards, 2001).…”

Diversidade genética de microrganismos presentes em utrículos da planta carnívora Utricularia foliosa (Lentibulariaceae).

“…Sendo assim, a análise independente de cultivo é cada vez mais vista como uma tecnologia de linha de base para a compreensão da ecologia e evolução dos ecossistemas microbianos (KUNIN et al, 2008 (PEROUTKA et al, 2008).…”