scholarly journals "Sweet but dangerous": nectaries in carnivorous plants

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartosz J. Płachno
Keyword(s):  
Carnivorous Plants ◽  
Ecological Group ◽  
Nectary Structure ◽  
Floral Nectaries

In carnivorous plants, two types of nectaries occur: extra-floral nectaries, generally associated with prey luring, and floral ones associated with pollination. Nectar produced by extra-floral nectaries not only attracts prey but may also be involved in trapping prey and plays a role in myrmecophily. The diversity of nectary structure in carnivorous plants reflects complicated evolutionary routes in this unique ecological group.

scholarly journals Structure of floral nectaries, nectar production and sugar composition in nectar of 7 species of Vicia L. Fabaceae

2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 49-57
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Stpiczyńska ◽  
Jacek Pielecki
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Composition ◽  
Nectar Production ◽  
Nectary Structure ◽  
Floral Nectaries

Nectaries of investigated species of <em>Vicia</em> were ranked into 3 morphological types: automorphic (<em>V. sepium</em> L.), transitoric (<em>V. angustifolia</em> L., <em>V. sativa</em> L., <em>V. villosa</em> Roth, <em>V. cracca</em> L.) and flat, epimorphic (<em>V. hirsuta</em> (L.) S. F. Gray and <em>V. tetrasperma</em> (L.) Schreb.). The best nectaring was connected with well defined nectary structure, and moreover quantity of nectar was correlated with nectary size but was not depended on number of secretory stomata. Sucrose dominated in the nectar of 6 species of vetches, the exception was balanced nectar of <em>V. tetrasperma</em>.

Functional anatomy of carnivorous traps

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartosz J. Płachno ◽  
Lyudmila E. Muravnik
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Functional Anatomy ◽  
Carnivorous Plant ◽  
Carnivorous Plants ◽  
New Type ◽  
Functional Units

We review the current knowledge of trap anatomy of carnivorous plants, with a focus on the diversity and structure of the glands that are used to attract, capture, kill and digest their prey and finally to absorb nutrients from carcasses of prey. These glands have diverse forms. Regardless of their structure and origin, they have the same functional units, but there are differences in subcellular mechanisms and adaptations for carnivory. We propose a new type of carnivorous plant trap—a ‘fecal traps—which has unique physiology, morphology, and anatomy for attracting the animals that are the source of excrement and also to retain and use it.

Attraction of prey

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Horner ◽  
Bartosz J. Płachno ◽  
Ulrike Bauer ◽  
Bruno Di Giusto
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Synergistic Action ◽  
Carnivorous Plants ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Acoustic Cues ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Prey Attraction

The ability to attract prey has long been considered a universal trait of carnivorous plants. We review studies from the past 25 years that have investigated the mechanisms by which carnivorous plants attract prey to their traps. Potential attractants include nectar, visual, olfactory, and acoustic cues. Each of these has been well documented to be effective in various species, but prey attraction is not ubiquitous among carnivorous plants. Directions for future research, especially in native habitats in the field, include: the qualitative and quantitative analysis of visual cues, volatiles, and nectar; temporal changes in attractants; synergistic action of combinations of attractants; the cost of attractants; and responses to putative attractants in electroantennograms and insect behavioral tests.

Evolution of carnivory in angiosperms

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Fleischmann ◽  
Jan Schlauer ◽  
Stephen A. Smith ◽  
Thomas J. Givnish
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Systematics ◽  
Carnivorous Plants ◽  
Carnivorous Species ◽  
Ecological Differences

Molecular systematics demonstrate that carnivorous plants have evolved at least ten times independently, in five orders, 12 families, and 19 genera of angiosperms. Carnivory has arisen once in Nepenthales (a segregate of Caryophyllales), once in Oxalidales, twice in Ericales, and three times each in Lamiales and Poales. Estimated crown ages of these ten lineages range from 1.9 to 81 million years (Mya), with the youngest three lineages (1.9 – 2.6 Mya) being all single genera of Poales, and all involving one or two carnivorous species in an otherwise noncarnivorous group. We now understand the evolution of carnivorous plants based on knowing when and (often) where they diverged from specific noncarnivorous ancestors; inferring which traits were gained, which were retained, and which of the latter may have been crucial preadaptations for carnivory; and identifying the evolutionary drivers of carnivory by evaluating the ecological differences between carnivorous plants and their noncarnivorous relatives.

The future of research with carnivorous plants

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron M. Ellison ◽  
Lubomír Adamec
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Species Concept ◽  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Carnivorous Plants ◽  
Assisted Migration ◽  
Transcriptomic Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Framework

The material presented in the chapters of Carnivorous Plants: Physiology, Ecology, and Evolution together provide a suite of common themes that could provide a framework for increasing progress in understanding carnivorous plants. All speciose genera would benefit from more robust, intra-generic classifications in a phylogenetic framework that uses a unified species concept. As more genomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic data accrue, new insights will emerge regarding trap biochemistry and regulation; interactions with commensals; and the importance of intraspecific variability on which natural selection works. Continued elaboration of field experiments will provide new insights into basic physiology; population biology; plant-animal and plant-microbe relationships; and evolutionary dynamics, all of which will aid conservation efforts and contribute to discussions of assisted migration as the climate continues to change.

Estimating the exposure of carnivorous plants to rapid climatic change

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew C. Fitzpatrick ◽  
Aaron M. Ellison
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Change ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Species Distributions ◽  
Dispersal Limitation ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Carnivorous Plant ◽  
Carnivorous Plants ◽  
Habitat Specialization ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
Suitable Habitats

Climatic change likely will exacerbate current threats to carnivorous plants. However, estimating the severity of climatic change is challenged by the unique ecology of carnivorous plants, including habitat specialization, dispersal limitation, small ranges, and small population sizes. We discuss and apply methods for modeling species distributions to overcome these challenges and quantify the vulnerability of carnivorous plants to rapid climatic change. Results suggest that climatic change will reduce habitat suitability for most carnivorous plants. Models also project increases in habitat suitability for many species, but the extent to which these increases may offset habitat losses will depend on whether individuals can disperse to and establish in newly suitable habitats outside of their current distribution. Reducing existing stressors and protecting habitats where numerous carnivorous plant species occur may ameliorate impacts of climatic change on this unique group of plants.

scholarly journals Influence of Land Use on Avian Diversity in North African Urban Environments

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
Hani Amir Aouissi ◽  
Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor ◽  
Mostefa Ababsa ◽  
Maria Boştenaru-Dan ◽  
Mahmoud Tourki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Ecological Group ◽  
Avian Diversity ◽  
North African ◽  
Index Method ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Land cover and use changes are important to study for their impact on ecosystem services and ultimately on sustainability. In urban environments, a particularly important research question addresses the relationship between urbanization-related changes and biodiversity, subject to controversies in the literature. Birds are an important ecological group, and useful for answering this question. The present study builds upon the hypothesis according to which avian diversity decreases with urbanization. In order to answer it, a sample of 4245 observations from 650 sites in Annaba, Algeria, obtained through the point abundance index method, were investigated by computing Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index and the species richness, mapping them, and analyzing the results statistically. The findings confirm the study hypothesis and are relevant for planning, as they stress the role of urban green spaces as biodiversity hotspots, and plead for the need of connecting them. From a planning perspective, the results emphasize the need for interconnecting the green infrastructure through avian corridors. Moreover, the results fill in an important lack of data on the biodiversity of the region, and are relevant for other similar Mediterranean areas. Future studies could use the findings to compare with data from other countries and continents.

Parasites as biological tags in marine fisheries research: European Atlantic waters

Parasitology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. MACKENZIE ◽  
W. HEMMINGSEN
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Melanogrammus Aeglefinus ◽  
Ecological Group ◽  
The North ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Mediterranean And Black Seas ◽  
Biological Tags

SUMMARYStudies of the use of parasites as biological tags for stock identification and to follow migrations of marine fish, mammals and invertebrates in European Atlantic waters are critically reviewed and evaluated. The region covered includes the North, Baltic, Barents and White Seas plus Icelandic waters, but excludes the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Each fish species or ecological group of species is treated separately. More parasite tag studies have been carried out on Atlantic herring Clupea harengus than on any other species, while cod Gadus morhua have also been the subject of many studies. Other species that have been the subjects of more than one study are: blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou, whiting Merlangius merlangus, haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus, Norway pout Trisopterus esmarkii, horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus and mackerel Scomber scombrus. Other species are dealt with under the general headings redfishes, flatfish, tunas, anadromous fish, elasmobranchs, marine mammals and invertebrates. A final section highlights how parasites can be, and have been, misused as biological tags, and how this can be avoided. It also reviews recent developments in methodology and parasite genetics, considers the potential effects of climate change on the distributions of both hosts and parasites, and suggests host-parasite systems that should reward further research.

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