Natures wonders: carnivorous plants switch to poop: (Introduction)

by David Turell , Wednesday, January 25, 2023, 16:25 (666 days ago) @ David Turell

Better nitrogen supply:

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-species-of-carnivorous-plant-evolved-into-a-toilet-an...

"Some species of carnivorous pitcher plant, Nepenthes, have switched from capturing and digesting insects to absorbing animal poop for their daily dose of nutrients – and it's a switch that's proving very beneficial.

"These botanical poop eaters are managing to take in more nitrogen through their diet adaptation than other Nepenthes that snack on prey, scientists found. The difference is a considerable one, even though the new food regime doesn't sound all that appetizing.

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"'A handful of Nepenthes species have evolved away from carnivory towards a diet of animal scats," says Alastair Robinson, a botanist from the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Australia.

"'We found that nitrogen capture is more than two times greater in species that capture mammal droppings than in other Nepenthes."

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"Nitrogen is a key driver of photosynthesis and other plant processes, and the scientists found the heavier 15N isotope of nitrogen was significantly more abundant in the Nepenthes compared with nearby non-carnivorous plants, and especially so in the species that specialized in consuming mammal droppings.

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"In most Nepenthes species, foraging insects slip on the smooth surfaces and edges of 'pitcher' leaves and fall into a trap of water and digestive fluids. As discovered in 2009, some of the plants have developed a mutually beneficial relationship with mountain tree shrews: the animals deposit nitrogen-rich waste into the pitchers while they feed on carbohydrates on the plant lids.

"Further research revealed a similar relationship between certain Nepenthes species and summit rats, birds, and bats. Now we know that these resource trades with animals are more beneficial in terms of nutrient capture than catching insects.

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"'Understanding the ecological requirements of species, particularly where species are involved in complex biological mutualisms, is crucial in conservation planning and management for threatened carnivorous plants," the researchers write in their published paper."

Comment: the final statement above obviously relates to the delicate balance in ecosystems where this plant plays a role. dhw will be pleased with how these plants adapted for survival.