Document: SHA-3-21-9

Resource allocation by carnivorous plants.

HERMANN, S.M.*

Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, Florida ¹

Abstract:
Many studies have demonstrated that carnivorous plants benefit from organisms they capture. However, until recently this research was viewed more as a curiosity than as the basis for models to explore patterns of resource allocation. In addition, much of the past research occurred in laboratories or greenhouses. Only recently has in situ work documented how varying levels of nutrients affect patterns of growth and reproduction. Data from field studies are critical for understanding plant use of supplemental resources. Some published studies reveal no differences attributable to supplemental feeding or fertilization. Other work does relate hierarchical allocation of ancillary resources to growth and reproduction. A model that predicts resource allocation in carnivorous plants may explain the conflicting conclusions. A review of studies that manipulated nutritional resources for _Sarracenia flava_ and other carnivorous species indicate that life span of a species and other temporal factors play roles in determining patterns of resource allocation. It may be necessary to continue observations for multiple years following a manipulation in order to observe a complete sequence of plant responses. In addition, models describing resource allocation in carnivorous plants should be more useful when they include an evaluation of clonal expansion, along with measures of sexual reproduction and within-ramet growth.

Keywords: carnivorous plant, pitcher plant, Sarracenia, clonal growth, resource allocation

This abstract is being presented at: 8:30 AM in session:
Symposium # 19: Carnivorous Plants as Model Ecological Systems.