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Abstract Leaves of the carnivorous sundew plants (Droseraspp.) secrete mucilage that hosts microorganisms, but whether this microbiota contributes to prey digestion is unclear. We identified the acidophilic fungusAcrodontium crateriformeas the dominant species in the mucilage microbial communities, thriving in multiple sundew species across the global range. The fungus grows and sporulates on sundew glands as its preferred acidic environment, and its presence in traps increased the prey digestion process.A. crateriformehas a reduced genome similar to other symbiotic fungi. DuringA. crateriforme–Drosera spatulatacoexistence and digestion of prey insects, transcriptomes revealed significant gene co-option in both partners. Holobiont expression patterns during prey digestion further revealed synergistic effects in several gene families including fungal aspartic and sedolisin peptidases, facilitating prey digestion in leaves, as well as nutrient assimilation and jasmonate signalling pathway expression. This study establishes that botanical carnivory is defined by adaptations involving microbial partners and interspecies interactions.
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Leaf NPK stoichiometry, δ15N , and apparent nutrient limitation of co‐occurring carnivorous and noncarnivorous plants
Abstract Previous meta‐analyses suggested that carnivorous plants—despite access to N, P, and K from prey—have significantly lower leaf concentrations of these nutrients than noncarnivores. Those studies, however, largely compared carnivores in nutrient‐poor habitats with noncarnivores in more nutrient‐rich sites, so that the differences reported might reflect habitat differences as much as differences in nutrient‐capture strategy. Here we examine three carnivorous and 12 noncarnivorous plants in the same nutrient‐poor bog to compare their foliar nutrient concentrations, assess their patterns of nutrient limitation using leaf NPK stoichiometry, and estimate percentage N derived from prey by carnivores using a mixing model for stable N isotopes. We hypothesized that (1) carnivore leaf nutrient concentrations approach or exceed those of noncarnivores in the same nutrient‐poor habitat; (2) species in different functional groups show different patterns of stoichiometry and apparent nutrient limitation; and (3) noncarnivores might show evidence of using other means of nutrient acquisition or conservation to reduce nutrient limitation. At Fallison Bog in northern Wisconsin, carnivorous plants (Drosera rotundifolia,Sarracenia purpurea,Utricularia macrorhiza) showed significantly lower leaf percentage C and N:P ratio, higher δ15N, and no difference from noncarnivores in leaf N, P, K, and δ13C. Sedges had significantly lower leaf percentage P, percentage C, and N:K ratio, and higher K:P ratio than nonsedges restricted to theSphagnummat, and may tap peat N via aerenchyma‐facilitated peat oxidation (oxipeditrophy). Evergreen ericaceous shrubs exhibited significantly higher levels of percentage C and lower values of δ15N than mat nonericads.Calla palustris—growing in the nutrient‐rich moat at the bog's upland edge—had very high values of leaf N, K, δ15N, and N:P ratio, suggesting that it may obtain nutrients from minerotrophic flows from the adjacent uplands and/or rapidly decaying peat. Stoichiometric analyses indicated that most species are N limited. A mixing model applied to δ15N values for carnivores, noncarnivores, and insects produced an estimate of 50% of leaf N derived from prey forUtricularia, 42% forSarracenia, and 41% forDrosera.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1929296
- PAR ID:
- 10383282
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Ecology
- Volume:
- 103
- Issue:
- 12
- ISSN:
- 0012-9658
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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