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The effects of light availability, prey capture, and their interaction on pitcher plant morphology

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Abstract

Carnivorous plants inhabit nutrient-poor environments and supplement nutrient acquisition by capturing prey. Carnivorous adaptations have been hypothesized to be beneficial only in environments with high-light availability. We hypothesized that plant morphology would change in response to resource availability (light and prey capture). In a field experiment in Leon County, Texas, we examined the effects of feeding, shading, and their interaction on pitcher plant (Sarracenia alata) morphology. When light availability was reduced, plants produced pitchers that had smaller diameters. The sum of pitcher heights was significantly lower for unfed plants than fed plants. As the season progressed, competing vegetation reduced light availability to pitchers in all treatments. Plants in all treatments produced pitchers that were blade-like with a small, non-functional opening and a widened keel. This experiment provides support for the theoretical model that carnivorous structures are only beneficial under conditions of high-light availability. It also emphasizes the importance of periodic burns of carnivorous plant bogs to reduce competing vegetation.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from the Texas Christian University Research and Creative Activity Fund (TCU RCAF) and the TCU Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC). The Adkins Fund at TCU provided summer support for MCS. Karis Kang provided help in the field. Dr. Amanda Hale, Dr. Dean Williams, two anonymous reviewers and the handling editor made helpful comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the Texas Christian University (TCU) Research and Creative Activities Fund (RCAF) and the Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC). Summer support for MS was provided by an Adkins Grant from the Department of Biology, TCU.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, 76129, USA

    Michael Christopher Segala & John D. Horner

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  1. Michael Christopher Segala
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  2. John D. Horner
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Contributions

Authors contributed equally to the design, field work, statistical analysis, and writing of the project. MS performed the laboratory analyses.

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Correspondence to John D. Horner.

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The authors have not disclosed any competing interests.

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Communicated by Christopher Anderson.

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Segala, M.C., Horner, J.D. The effects of light availability, prey capture, and their interaction on pitcher plant morphology. Plant Ecol 224, 539–548 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-023-01320-6

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