Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Utricularia: a vegetarian carnivorous plant?

Algae as prey of bladderwort in oligotrophic bogs

  • Published:
Plant Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aquatic carnivorous plants of the genus Utricularia capture and utilise a wide range of small aquatic organisms. Most of the literature focuses on animals as prey. In this study, we investigate the occurrence of algae inside the traps of four species of bladderwort. We observed that algae of 45 genera form up to 80% of the total prey; algae were found frequently in traps without animal prey. The majority are coccal and trichal algae of the families Desmidiaceae and Zygnemataceae. The percentage of algae increases significantly with decreasing electric conductivity of the water (r S = −0.417; P = 0,000). Thus, algae are the most frequent prey in extremely soft waters. The percentage of algae did not differ significantly, not within the investigated Utricularia species or within the various study sites. However, the taxonomic composition of the algal prey showed highly significant differences between different sites. More than 90% of the trapped algae were killed and degraded by the bladders. The recent data allow for two alternative hypotheses: either algal prey supplements animal prey in oligotrophic waters, or the unprofitable trapping of algae is rather an additional stress factor for Utricularia and contributes to its limited distribution in some peat bogs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adamec L (1995) Oxygen budget in the traps of Utricularia australis. Carniv Plant Newslett 24:42–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Adamec L (2007) Oxygen concentrations inside the traps of the carnivorous plants Utricularia and Genlisea (Lentibulariaceae). Ann Bot 100:849–856

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adlassnig W, Peroutka M, Emmer M, Pranjić K, Sprinzl R, Piringer K, Pois W, Steiner G, Lichtscheidl IK (2005) The nature reserve park “Heidenreichstein” in lower Austria: an example for conservation, management and economic significance of a regenerating peat bog. In: Abstracts of the XVII International Botanical Congress, Vienna, 17–23 July 2005

  • Adler W, Oswald K, Fischer R (1994) Exkursionsflora von Österreich. Bestimmungsbuch für alle in Österreich wildwachsenden sowie die wichtigsten kultivierten Gefäßpflanzen (Farnpflanzen und Samenpflanzen) mit Angaben über ihre Ökologie und Verbreitung. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Aeschimann D, Lauber K, Moser DM, Theurillat J-P (2004) Flora Alpina. Ein Atlas sämtlicher 4500 Gefäßpflanzen der Alpen. Haupt-Verlag, Bern

    Google Scholar 

  • Bancher E, Höfler K (1959) Protoplasma und Zelle. In: Linser H (ed) Grundlagen der allgemeinen Vitalchemie in Einzeldarstellungen, vol. 6. Urban & Schwarzenberg, Wien, pp 1–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Barthlott W, Porembski S, Seine R, Theisen I (2004) Karnivoren. Biologie und Kultur fleischfressender Pflanzen. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Blinks LR (1942) Permeability. Ann Rev Physiol 4:1–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Botta SM (1976) Sobre las trampas y las víctimas o presas de algunas especies argentinas del género Utricularia. Darwiniana (Buenos Aires) 20:127–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohn F (1875) Ueber die Function der Blasen von Aldrovanda und Utricularia. Beitr Biol Pfl 3:71–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Darwin C (1875) Insectivorous plants. John Murray, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Garbini A (1898) La vittime della Utricularia neglecta. Carlo Ferrari, Venice

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon E, Pacheco S (2007) Prey composition in the carnivorous plant Utricularia inflata and U. gibba (Lentibulariaceae) from Paria Peninsula, Venezuela. Rev Biol Trop 55:795–803

    Google Scholar 

  • Grabherr G, Polatschek A (1986) Lebensräume und Flora Vorarlbergs. Ökosysteme, Vegetation, Flora mit Roten Listen. Vorarlberger Landschaftspflegefond, Bregenz

    Google Scholar 

  • Guisande C, Granado-Lorencio C, Andrade-Sossa C, Duque SR (2007) Bladderworts. Func Plant Sci Biotech 1:58–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Harder R, Zemlin I (1968). Blütenbildung von Pinguicula lusitanica in vitro durch Fütterung mit Pollen. Planta 78:72–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harms S (1999) Prey selection in three species of the carnivorous aquatic plant Utricularia (bladderwort). Arch Hydrobiol 146:449–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Harms S (2002) The effect of bladderwort (Utricularia) predation on microcrustacean prey. Freshwater Biol 47:1608–1617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hegi G (1906) Illustrierte Flora von Mittel-Europa. Mit besonderer Berücksichtigung von Oesterreich, Deutschland und der Schweiz. Zum Gebrauch in den Schulen und zum Selbstunterricht. Parey, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegner RW (1926) The interrelations of protozoa and the utricles of Utricularia. Biol Bull 50:239–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jobson RW, Morris EC, Burgin S (2000) Carnivory and nitrogen supply affect the growth of the bladderwort Utricularia uliginosa. Aust J Bot 48:549–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juniper BE, Robins RJ, Joel DM (1989) The carnivorous plants. Academic Press Limited, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavarack PS (1979) Rainforest Drosera of north Queensland. Carniv Pl Newsl 8:61–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenzenweger R (1996) Desmidiaceenflora von Österreich, 1st edn., vol 1. J. Cramer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd FE (1942) The carnivorous plants. Ronald Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Loub W, Url W, Kiermayer O, Diskus A, Hilmbauer K (1954) Die Algenzonierung in Mooren des österreichischen Alpengebietes. Sitzungsber. d. Österr. Akademie d. Wissenschaften. Mathem-naturw Kl 163:447–494

    Google Scholar 

  • Mette N, Wilbert N, Barthlott W (2000) Food composition of aquatic bladderworts (Utricularia, Lentibulariaceae) in various habitats. Beitr Biol Pflanzen 72:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyers DG, Strickler JR (1979) Capture enhancement in a carnivorous aquatic plant: function of antennae and bristles in Utricularia vulgaris. Science 203:1022–1025

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Migula W (1907) Kryptogamen-Flora von Deutschland, Deutsch-Österreich und der Schweiz. Band II. Algen. 1. Teil. Cyanophycee, Diatomaceae, Chlorophyceae. Zezschwitz Verlag für Botanik, Gera

    Google Scholar 

  • Moran JA, Clarke CM, Hawkins BJ (2003) From carnivore to detritivore? Isotopic evidence for leaf litter utilization by the tropical pitcher plant Nepenthes ampullaria. Int J Plant Sci 164:635–639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Płachno BJ, Adamec L, Lichtscheidl IK, Peroutka M, Adlassnig W, Vrba J (2006) Fluorescent labelling of phosphatase activity in digestive glands of carnivorous plants. Plant Biol 8:813–820

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pranjić K (2004) Zur Ökologie Karnivorer Pflanzen: Die Rolle von Mikroorganismen beim Abbau von Tieren durch fleischfressende Pflanzen. Diploma Thesis, University of Vienna

  • Pranjić K, Adlassnig W, Peroutka M, Pois W, Mayer E, Lichtscheidl IK (2006) Flora and ecology of the ombrogenic fen “Schwarzes Moos”. Verh Zoo-Bot Ges Österreich 143:97–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Pringsheim EG, Pringsheim O (1967) Kleiner Beitrag zur Physiologie von Utricularia. Z Pflanzenphysiol 57:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Repitz E (1993) Beiträge zur Desmidiaceenflora der Bregenzerwälder Moore. Diploma Thesis, University of Vienna

  • Richards J (2001) Bladder function in Utricularia purpurea (Lentibulariaceae): is carnivory important? Am J Bot 88:170–176

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rydin H, Jeglum J (2006) The biology of peatlands. Oxford University Press, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Schratt AE (1988) Geobotanisch-ökologische Untersuchungen zum Indikatorwert von Wasserpflanzen und ihren Gesellschaften in Donautalwässern bei Wien. PhD-Thesis, University of Vienna

  • Schreiber H (ed) (1910) Die Moore Vorarlbergs und des Fürstentums Liechtenstein in naturwissenschaftlicher und technischer Beziehung. Verlag des Deutschösterreichischen Moorvereins, Staab

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumacher GJ (1960) Further notes on the occurrence of desmids in Utricularia bladders. Castanea 25:62–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Seine R, Porembski S, Balduin M, Theisen I, Wilbert N, Barthlott W (2002) Different prey strategies of terrestrial and aquatic species in the carnivorous genus Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae). Bot Jahrb Syst 124:71–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sirova D, Adamec L, Vrba J (2003) Enzymatic activities in traps of four aquatic species of the carnivorous genus Utricularia. New Phytol 159:669–675

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steiner GM (1985) Die Pflanzengesellschaften der Moore des Österreichischen Granit- und Gneishochlandes. Verh Zool-Bot Ges Öst 123:99–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiner GM (1992) Österreichischer Moorschutzkatalog, 1st edn. Styria Medienservice, Verlag Ulrich Moser, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Sydenham PH, Findlay GP (1973) The rapid movement of the bladder of Utricularia sp. Aust J Biol Sci 26:1115–1126

    Google Scholar 

  • Sydenham PH, Findlay GP (1975) Transport of solute and water by resetting bladders of Utricularia. Aust J Plant Physiol 2:335–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Tahvanainen T (2005) Diversity of water chemistry and vegetation of mires in the Kainu region, middle boreal Finland. PhD Thesis. University of Joensuu

  • Taylor P (1994) The genus Utricularia - a taxonomic monograph, 2nd edn. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

    Google Scholar 

  • Thor G (1988) The genus Utricularia in the Nordic countries, with special emphasis on U. stygia and U. ochroleuca. Nord J Bot 8:213–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tschumpel S (2002) Fangmechanismus und Nährstoffaufnahme bei Utricularia vulgaris, einer insektivoren Pflanze. Diploma Thesis, University of Vienna

  • Vintejoux C (1973) Études des aspects ultrastructuraux de certaines cellules glandulaires en rapport avec leur activité sécrétive chez l’Utricularia neglecta L. (Lentibulariaceae). Comptes Rendues 277D:2345–2348

    Google Scholar 

  • Vintejoux C (1974) Ultrastructural and cytochemical observations on the digestive glands of Utricularia neglecta L. (Lentibulariaceae). Distribution of protease and acid phosphatase activities. Portugaliae Act Biol 14:463–471

    Google Scholar 

  • Vintejoux C, Shoar-Ghafari A (2005) Glandes digestives de l’Utriculaire: ultrastructures et fonctions. Act Bot Gall 152:131–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner GM, Mshigeni KE (1986) The Utricularia-Cyanophyta association and its nitrogen-fixing capacity. Hydrobiologia 141:255–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Dr. I. Lang for proofreading the manuscript. Specimens of Utricularia have been kindly provided by B. Schmidt and E. Mayer. K.-H. Piringer, R. Sprinzl and W. Hafellner made research in preserved areas possible. This study was supported by grant H 2130/2006 of the Hochschuljubiläumsstiftung der Stadt Wien to M. Peroutka and grant LH-I-84/003-2005 of the Province of Niederösterreich to W. Adlassnig.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cell Imaging and Ultrastructure Research, Department of Cell Physiology and Scientific Film, The University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Marianne Peroutka, Wolfram Adlassnig, Michael Volgger, Thomas Lendl & Irene K. Lichtscheidl

  2. Museum of Natural History, Burgring 7, A-1010, Vienna, Austria

    Walter G. Url

Authors
  1. Marianne Peroutka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wolfram Adlassnig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael Volgger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Thomas Lendl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Walter G. Url
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Irene K. Lichtscheidl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marianne Peroutka.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Peroutka, M., Adlassnig, W., Volgger, M. et al. Utricularia: a vegetarian carnivorous plant?. Plant Ecol 199, 153–162 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-008-9420-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-008-9420-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation