Plants acting as a host ecosystem – html version

Abstract

Studying entire ecosystems is expensive, labour intensive and often requires study over long timescales. Sarracenia purpurea (Purple Pitcher Plant) provides a useful model in which to study the community dynamics of micro-ecosystems on a condensed time-scale.

Studying entire ecosystems is expensive, labour intensive and often requires study over long time scales. Micro-ecosystems can allow study of community dynamics on a smaller scale in a time effective way. Carnivorous pitcher plants host a community of organisms (bacteria, rotifers, mites, yeast and more, see Fig 1.) known as the phytotelmata, that function together as a micro-ecosystem. This community works together to degrade prey caught in the pitfall trap.

Sarracenia purpurea & Darlingtonia californica — Fig. 2- left Sarracenia purpurea. Right Darlingtonia californica.

Sarracenia purpurea (Purple Pitcher Plant, see Fig 2) has been introduced into Northern Europe from North America (Fig 3). In its native habitat mosquito larvae are the top predators, but there does not appear to be an insect equivalent in European populations potentially shifting community dynamics. Darlingtonia californica (Fig 2) has been introduced into one site in Ireland where it grows with S. purpurea (Fig 3), providing an excellent study site to look at plant influence on community dynamics compared to environmental effects.

Distribution map — Fig. 3- purple zones, Sarracenia purpurea rough distribution. Green zones, Darlingtonia californica.

Research questions:

1) How do S. purpurea phytotelmata communities differ in native and introduced habitats?

2) Does plant or pitcher morphology play a role in phytotelmata structure?

3) How do the two species utilise different microorganisms to form their phytotelmata within the same site?

Approach:

Sample pitcher fluid for in native and introduced ranges for both pitcher plant species. DNA analysis will be used to determine community composition.
Measure plant, pitcher and environmental variables to determine factors driving community changes.

Applications:

Model for larger ecosystems – how the role of top predator may influence community assembly.
Model for introduced species and communities to determine how different environmental factors can shape their biology/dynamics.