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Ann Bot

Title:		Capture of algae promotes growth and propagation in aquatic Utricularia
Author(s):		Koller-Peroutka M; Lendl T; Watzka M; Adlassnig W;
Address:		"University of Vienna, Core Facility Cell Imaging and Ultrastructure Research, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria, Gregor Mendel Institute for Molecular Plant Biology, Lab Management, Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, A-1030 Vienna, Austria and University of Vienna, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Research Silver - Stable Isotope Lab, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria marianne.peroutka@univie.ac.at. University of Vienna, Core Facility Cell Imaging and Ultrastructure Research, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria, Gregor Mendel Institute for Molecular Plant Biology, Lab Management, Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, A-1030 Vienna, Austria and University of Vienna, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Research Silver - Stable Isotope Lab, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria"
Journal Title:		Ann Bot
Year:		2015
Volume:		20141218
Issue:		2
Page Number:		227 - 236
DOI:		10.1093/aob/mcu236
ISSN/ISBN:		1095-8290 (Electronic) 0305-7364 (Print) 0305-7364 (Linking)
Abstract:		"BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Some carnivorous plants trap not only small animals but also algae and pollen grains. However, it remains unclear if these trapped particles are useless bycatch or whether they provide nutrients for the plant. The present study examines this question in Utricularia, which forms the largest and most widely spread genus of carnivorous plants, and which captures prey by means of sophisticated suction traps. METHODS: Utricularia plants of three different species (U. australis, U. vulgaris and U. minor) were collected in eight different water bodies including peat bogs, lakes and artificial ponds in three regions of Austria. The prey spectrum of each population was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively, and correlated with data on growth and propagation, C/N ratio and delta(15)N. KEY RESULTS: More than 50 % of the prey of the Utricularia populations investigated consisted of algae and pollen, and U. vulgaris in particular was found to capture large amounts of gymnosperm pollen. The capture of algae and pollen grains was strongly correlated with most growth parameters, including weight, length, budding and elongation of internodes. The C/N ratio, however, was less well correlated. Other prey, such as moss leaflets, fungal hyphae and mineral particles, were negatively correlated with most growth parameters. delta(15)N was positively correlated with prey capture, but in situations where algae were the main prey objects it was found that the standard formula for calculation of prey-derived N was no longer applicable. CONCLUSIONS: The mass capture of immotile particles confirms the ecological importance of autonomous firing of the traps. Although the C/N ratio was little influenced by algae, they clearly provide other nutrients, possibly including phosphorus and trace elements. By contrast, mosses, fungi and mineral particles appear to be useless bycatch. Correlations with chemical parameters indicate that Utricularia benefits from nutrient-rich waters by uptake of inorganic nutrients from the water, by the production of more traps per unit of shoot length, and by the capture of more prey particles per trap, as nutrient-rich waters harbour more prey organisms"
Keywords:		Austria Embryophyta/physiology *Food Chain Fresh Water/chemistry Magnoliopsida/growth & development/*physiology Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis *Plant Physiological Phenomena Reproduction Species Specificity Algae U.minor U.vulgaris.Utricularia australis aq;
Notes:		"MedlineKoller-Peroutka, Marianne Lendl, Thomas Watzka, Margarete Adlassnig, Wolfram eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2014/12/21 Ann Bot. 2015 Feb; 115(2):227-36. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcu236. Epub 2014 Dec 18"