Harmless nectar source or deadly trap: Nepenthes pitchers are activated by rain, condensation and nectar.

ABSTRACT: The leaves of Nepenthes pitcher plants are specialized pitfall traps which capture and digest arthropod prey. In many species, insects become trapped by 'aquaplaning' on the wet pitcher rim (peristome). Here we investigate the ecological implications of this capture mechanism in Nepenthes rafflesiana var. typica. We combine meteorological data and continuous field measurements of peristome wetness using electrical conductance with experimental assessments of the pitchers' capture efficiency. Our results demonstrate that pitchers can be highly effective traps with capture rates as high as 80% but completely ineffective at other times. These dramatic changes are due to the wetting condition of the peristome. Variation of peristome wetness and capture efficiency was perfectly synchronous, and

SUBMITTER: Bauer U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2593725 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature