Construction costs and tradeoffs in carnivorous pitcher plant leaves: towards a pitcher leaf economics spectrum.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Leaf economics theory holds that physiological constraints to photosynthesis have a role in the coordinated evolution of multiple leaf traits, an idea that can be extended to carnivorous plants occupying a particular trait space that is constrained by key costs and benefits. Pitcher traps are modified leaves that may face steep photosynthetic costs: a high-volume, three-dimensional tubular structure may be less efficient than a flat lamina. While past research has investigated the photosynthetic costs of pitchers, the exact suite of constraints shaping pitcher trait variation remain under-explored, including constraints to carnivorous function.

Scope

In this review, we describe various constraints arising from the dual photosynthetic and carnivorous functions of p

SUBMITTER: Gilbert KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12358033 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature