Adaptive radiation with regard to nutrient sequestration strategies in the carnivorous plants of the genus Nepenthes

2012/02/01 by Andrej Pavlovič · 3 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies #Plant Diversity and Evolution #Plant Parasitism and Resistance

paper · pdf · doi:10.4161/psb.18842

openalex publication_date 2012/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Carnivorous pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes have evolved a great diversity of pitcher morphologies. Selective pressures for maximizing nutrient uptake have driven speciation and diversification of the genus in a process known as adaptive radiation. This leads to the evolution of pitchers adapted to specific and often bizarre source of nutrients, which are not strictly animal-derived. One example is Nepenthes ampullaria with unusual growth pattern and pitcher morphology what enables the plant to capture a leaf litter from the canopy above. We showed that the plant benefits from nitrogen uptake by increased rate of photosynthesis and growth what may provide competitive advantage over others co-habiting plants. A possible impact of such specialization toward hybridization, an important mechanism in speciation, is discussed.

Citations

• Mass march of termites into the deadly trap
• Swimming ants and pitcher plants: a unique ant-plant interaction from Borneo
• A Unique Resource Mutualism between the Giant Bornean Pitcher Plant, Nepenthes rajah, and Members of a Small Mammal Community
• From Carnivore to Detritivore? Isotopic Evidence for Leaf Litter Utilization by the Tropical Pitcher Plant Nepenthes ampullaria
• Mutualism between tree shrews and pitcher plants
• Pitchers of Nepenthes rajah collect faecal droppings from both diurnal and nocturnal small mammals and emit fruity odour
• Nutritional benefit from leaf litter utilization in the pitcher plant Nepenthes ampullaria
• Slippery or sticky? Functional diversity in the trapping strategy of Nepenthes carnivorous plants
• Trap geometry in three giant montane pitcher plant species from Borneo is a function of tree shrew body size
• Functional characterization of a class III acid endochitinase from the traps of the carnivorous pitcher plant genus, Nepenthes
• A novel resource–service mutualism between bats and pitcher plants
• Termite Prey Specialization in the Pitcher Plant Nepenthes albomarginata—Evidence from Stable Isotope Analysis
• Ion fluxes across the pitcher walls of three Bornean Nepenthes pitcher plant species: flux rates and gland distribution patterns reflect nitrogen sequestration strategies
• The plant-ant Camponotus schmitzi helps its carnivorous host-plant Nepenthes bicalcarata to catch its prey

Cited by

• Capture mechanism in Palaeotropical pitcher plants (Nepenthaceae) is constrained by climate
• Fluid physico-chemical properties influence capture and diet in Nepenthes pitcher plants
• Nepenthes ampullaria [wikipedia]