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Sci Rep

Title:		Pollinator-prey conflicts in carnivorous plants: When flower and trap properties mean life or death
Author(s):		El-Sayed AM; Byers JA; Suckling DM;
Address:		"The New Zealand Institute for Plant &Food Research Limited Gerald Street, 7608 Lincoln, New Zealand. Department of Entomology Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rehovot, Israel. School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Tamaki Campus, Building 733 Auckland, New Zealand"
Journal Title:		Sci Rep
Year:		2016
Volume:		20160218
Issue:
Page Number:		21065 -
DOI:		10.1038/srep21065
ISSN/ISBN:		2045-2322 (Electronic) 2045-2322 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Insect-pollinated carnivorous plants are expected to have higher fitness if they resolve pollinator-prey conflicts by sparing insects pollinating their flowers while trapping prey insects. We examined whether separation between flowers and traps of the carnivorous sundew species or pollinator preferences for colours of flowers enable these plants to spare pollinators. In addition, we collected odours from flowers and traps of each carnivorous species in order to identify volatile chemicals that are attractive or repellent to pollinators and prey insects. In Drosera spatulata and D. arcturi, no volatiles were detected from either their flowers or traps that could serve as kairomone attractants for insects. However, behavioural experiments indicated white colour and spatial separation between flowers and traps aid in reducing pollinator entrapment while capturing prey. In contrast, D. auriculata have flowers that are adjacent to their traps. In this species we identified chemical signals emanating from flowers that comprised an eight-component blend, while the plant's traps emitted a unique four-component blend. The floral odour attracted both pollinator and prey insects, while trap odour only attracted prey. This is the first scientific report to demonstrate that carnivorous plants utilize visual, spatial, and chemical signals to spare flower visitors while trapping prey insects"
Keywords:		Animals Drosera/*physiology Flowers/*physiology *Insecta Pollination/*physiology;
Notes:		"MedlineEl-Sayed, Ashraf M Byers, John A Suckling, David M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2016/02/19 Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 18; 6:21065. doi: 10.1038/srep21065"