Functional characteristics of traps of aquatic carnivorous Utricularia species

0369567 - BÚ 2012 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Adamec, Lubomír
Functional characteristics of traps of aquatic carnivorous Utricularia species.
Aquatic Botany. Roč. 95, č. 3 (2011), 226-233. ISSN 0304-3770. E-ISSN 1879-1522
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GAP504/11/0783
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60050516
Keywords : aquatic carnivorous plants * trap thickness measurements * water pumping
Subject RIV: EF - Botanics
Impact factor: 1.516, year: 2011

The basic characteristics of firing and resetting were measured in isolated traps from 13 aquatic Utricularia species. The 13 species differed considerably in their firing and resetting rates. Significant interspecific differences were also found in the magnitude of firing (in total 3.7-4.2 times) and resetting rates (10-24 times) per unit trap thickness or length. Smaller and narrower traps were relatively more effective at trap firing and resetting than larger traps. A strict linear resetting rate, without any lag-period, was found during the first 3 min after trap firing in U. reflexa. This suggests that water is pumped out of the trap continuously and probably recirculates. An ecological model based on the literature data has been devised to quantify the daily N and P gain from the ambient water by Utricularia traps devoid of animal prey. The model shows that the total N and P content estimated in the trap fluid is too high to be accumulated from only the ambient water.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0203598