Am. J. Bot. Join BSA Today!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (14)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Newell, S. J.
Right arrow Articles by Nastase, A. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Newell, S. J.
Right arrow Articles by Nastase, A. J.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Newell, S. J.
Right arrow Articles by Nastase, A. J.

American Journal of Botany, Vol 85, 88, Copyright © 1998 by Botanical Society of America, Inc.

ECOLOGY

Efficiency of insect capture by Sarracenia purpurea (Sarraceniaceae), the northern pitcher plant

SJ Newell and AJ Nastase

Pitcher plants (Sarracenia purpurea L.) attract insects to pitchers and then capture them in fluid-filled, pitfall traps, but how efficient are pitcher plants at capturing prey in their natural environment? We monitored insect activity by videotaping pitchers and analyzing videotapes for several variables including identity of each visitor and outcome of each visit (e.g., departure or capture). Efficiency of capture (i.e., number of captures per number of visits) was low. Overall efficiency of capture was 0.83-0.93%, depending on whether potential prey were broadly or narrowly defined. Ants constituted 74% of the potential prey. Efficiency of capture of ants was even lower at 0.37%. Potential prey were more likely to visit pitchers with greater red venation and less water in the pitcher. There was no correlation between number of potential prey visiting a pitcher and pitcher age, length, or mouth width. Also, number of potential prey visits did not correlate with plant size, air temperature, time of day or date of videotaping. While the overall efficiency of prey capture was very low, pitcher plants may still benefit from the additional nutrients. However, the relationship between ants and S. purpurea remains an enigma, since it is unclear whether the plants capture enough ants to compensate for nectar lost to ants.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
A. M. Ellison and N. J. Gotelli
Nitrogen availability alters the expression of carnivory in the northern pitcher plant, Sarraceniapurpurea
PNAS, April 2, 2002; 99(7): 4409 - 4412.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Bot.Home page
J. S. Brewer
Short-term effects of fire and competition on growth and plasticity of the yellow pitcher plant, Sarracenia alata (Sarraceniaceae)
Am. J. Botany, September 1, 1999; 86(9): 1264 - 1271.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
A. M. Ellison and N. J. Gotelli
Nitrogen availability alters the expression of carnivory in the northern pitcher plant, Sarraceniapurpurea
PNAS, April 2, 2002; 99(7): 4409 - 4412.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1998 by the Botanical Society of America, Inc.