Carnivory in pitcher plants of the genus Heliamphora (Sarraceniaceae)

Field studies of Heliamphora nutans Benth., H. heterodoxa Steyerm., H. minor Gleason, H. ionasii maguire and H. tatei Gleason in the Guayana Highlands of Venezuela, show that the last named species is a true carnivore, possessing all of the following traits: attraction of prey through special visual...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The New phytologist 1992-12, Vol.122 (4), p.733-744
Main Authors: Jaffe, K, Michelangeli, F, Gonzalez, J.M, Miras, B, Ruiz, M.C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Ants
Arthropods
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
carnivorous plants
Enzymes
feeding behaviour
Formicidae
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Guayana Highlands
Heliamphora
heliamphora heterodoxa
heliamphora ionasii
heliamphora minor
heliamphora nutans
heliamphora tatei
Insect larvae
Insect traps
Insectivorous plants
Leaves
Nutrient absorption
pitcher plants
plant morphology
plant nutrition
Plants
Plants and fungi
prey
Sarraceniaceae
Tepuis
tepuy
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Summary:Field studies of Heliamphora nutans Benth., H. heterodoxa Steyerm., H. minor Gleason, H. ionasii maguire and H. tatei Gleason in the Guayana Highlands of Venezuela, show that the last named species is a true carnivore, possessing all of the following traits: attraction of prey through special visual and chemical signals, trapping and killing of prey, digestion of prey through secreted enzymes, presence of commensals, presence of wax scales aiding in the capture of prey, and absorption of nutrients. The other species possess all traits except they seem neither to secrete proteolytic enzymes nor produce wax scales. The pattern of the carnivorous syndrome among Heliamphora species suggests that the carnivorous habit has evolved in nutrient-poor habitats to improve the absorption of nutrients by capturing mainly ants and only H. tatei further evolved mechanisms for rapid assimilation of organic nutrients and for capturing a variety of flying insects. The carnivorous traits are lost in low light conditions, indicating that nutrient supply is limiting only under fast growth.
ISSN:0028-646X
1469-8137
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1992.tb00102.x