U. Vulgaris observations

From: Tassara (strega@split.it)
Date: Tue Apr 14 1998 - 05:52:25 PDT


Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 14:52:25 +0200
From: strega@split.it (Tassara)
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg1253$foo@default>
Subject: U. Vulgaris observations

Dear all,

I've got very amazed of my Utricularia Vulgaris hunting efficiency.
I have a small display acquarium 30*20*4 cm, with 6 cm rainwater inside,
on my writing-table (full sun all the morning). It was first full of algae
because of sunlight and nothing else survived there inside. I added some
fertilizer and things became far worse (algae love being fertilized).

Later I accidentally introduced some small crustaceans less than one half
mm long. In a short time they multiplied and ate all the algae, making
of them a mush which fell on the bottom of the acquarium.

Few weeks ago I added an U. Vulgaris bud which soon started growing.
Well, now the plant is about 40 cm long, branching and with many traps.
The traps are rather transparent, so I can see what they captured.
Each mature trap contains now 2-10 crustacean.

Result: the huge crustacean population I had in the acquarium is now
in the Utricularia, with few of them still swimming free in the water,
and algae are starting growing again.
The acquatic world balance is really surprising and unforeseeable!

Good growing

Filippo Tassara

Italy



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