Dataset Information

The role of multiple partners in a digestive mutualism with a protocarnivorous plant.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The protocarnivorous plant Paepalanthus bromelioides (Eriocaulaceae) is similar to bromeliads in that this plant has a rosette-like structure that allows rainwater to accumulate in leaf axils (i.e. phytotelmata). Although the rosettes of P. bromelioides are commonly inhabited by predators (e.g. spiders), their roots are wrapped by a cylindrical termite mound that grows beneath the rosette. In this study it is predicted that these plants can derive nutrients from recycling processes carried out by termites and from predation events that take place inside the rosette. It is also predicted that bacteria living in phytotelmata can accelerate nutrient cycling derived from predators.

Methods

The predictions were tested by surveying plants and animals, and also by performing field experiments in rocky fields from Serra do Cipó, Brazil, using natural abundance and enriched isotopes of (15)N. Laboratory bioassays were also conducted to test proteolytic activities of bacteria from P. bromelioides rosettes.

Key results

Analyses of (15)N in natural nitrogen abundances showed that the isotopic signature of P. bromelioides is similar to that of carnivorous plants and higher than that of non-carnivorous plants in the study area. Linear mixing models showed that predatory activities on the rosettes (i.e. spider faeces and prey carcass) resulted in overall nitrogen contributions of 26·5 % (a top-down flux). Although nitrogen flux was not detected from termites to plants via decomposition of labelled cardboard, the data on (15)N in natural nitrogen abundance indicated that 67 % of nitrogen from P. bromelioides is derived from termites (a bottom-up flux). Bacteria did not affect nutrient cycling or nitrogen uptake from prey carcasses and spider faeces.

Conclusions

The results suggest that P. bromelioides derive nitrogen from associated predators and termites, despite differences in nitrogen cycling velocities, which seem to have been higher in nitrogen derived from predators (leaves) than from termites (roots). This is the first study that demonstrates partitioning effects from multiple partners in a digestion-based mutualism. Despite most of the nitrogen being absorbed through their roots (via termites), P. bromelioides has all the attributes necessary to be considered as a carnivorous plant in the context of digestive mutualism.

SUBMITTER: Nishi AH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3523655 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The role of multiple partners in a digestive mutualism with a protocarnivorous plant.

Nishi Aline Hiroko AH Vasconcellos-Neto João J Romero Gustavo Quevedo GQ

Annals of botany 20121106 1

<h4>Background and aims</h4>The protocarnivorous plant Paepalanthus bromelioides (Eriocaulaceae) is similar to bromeliads in that this plant has a rosette-like structure that allows rainwater to accumulate in leaf axils (i.e. phytotelmata). Although the rosettes of P. bromelioides are commonly inhabited by predators (e.g. spiders), their roots are wrapped by a cylindrical termite mound that grows beneath the rosette. In this study it is predicted that these plants can derive nutrients from recyc ...[more]

PMID: 23131297

Similar Datasets

Project description:Background:Polyploidy is known to significantly alter plant genomes, phenotypes and interactions with the abiotic environment, yet the impacts of polyploidy on plant-biotic interactions are less well known. A particularly important plant-biotic interaction is the legume-rhizobia mutualism, in which rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen in exchange for carbon provided by legume hosts. This mutualism regulates nutrient cycles in natural ecosystems and provides nitrogen to agricultural environments. Despite the ecological, evolutionary and agricultural importance of plant polyploidy and the legume-rhizobia mutualism, it is not yet fully understood whether plant polyploidy directly alters mutualism traits or the consequences on plant growth. Scope:The aim was to propose a conceptual framework to understand how polyploidy might directly enhance the quantity and quality of rhizobial symbionts hosted by legume plants, resulting in increased host access to fixed nitrogen (N). Mechanistic hypotheses have been devised to examine how polyploidy can directly alter traits that impact the quantity (e.g. nodule number, nodule size, terminal bacteroid differentiation) and quality of symbionts (e.g. nodule environment, partner choice, host sanctions). To evaluate these hypotheses, an exhaustive review of studies testing the effects of plant polyploidy on the mutualism was conducted. In doing so, overall trends were synthesized, highlighting the limited understanding of the mechanisms that underlie variation in results achieved thus far, revealing striking gaps in knowledge and uncovering areas ripe for future research. Conclusions:Plant polyploidy can immediately alter nodule size, N fixation rate and the identity of rhizobial symbionts hosted by polyploid legumes, but many of the mechanistic hypotheses proposed here, such as bacteroid number and enhancements of the nodule environment, remain unexplored. Although current evidence supports a role of plant polyploidy in enhancing key aspects of the legume-rhizobia mutualism, the underlying mechanisms and effects on host benefit from the mutualism remain unresolved.

Dataset Information

The role of multiple partners in a digestive mutualism with a protocarnivorous plant.

Background and aims

Methods

Key results

Conclusions

Publications

The role of multiple partners in a digestive mutualism with a protocarnivorous plant.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure