Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 17:27:59 +0000 From: Peter Cole <carnivor@flytrap.demon.co.uk> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1295$foo@default> Subject: Subject: Lavoisières' law
> Aniway, I am clear that according to literature, CPs don't realy
> need enormous quantities of insects. I also understand the mechanism
> by which the mouse was digested. But I am not realy sure where did the
> mouse go...
I like that question - very zen :-)
But seriously - yes, Sarracena (and other CPs) will survive without
prey, but grow very much more slowly than well-fed plants in the
long term.
The answer to the question is that the mouse (or at least the
rottable, smelly proteinaceous bits dissolved into a soup of amino
acids, sugars and assorted other enzyme breakdown products, and
were absorbed into the pitcher walls, carrying with them the
calories contained in the mouse's body, as well as all manner of
trace nutrients.
About half the skeleton and some fur remained at the end of the meal
- presumably mostly bacteria and possibly the enzymes had eroded
even these non-proteinaceous parts.
Much the same principle as an ounce or two of meat in a human
stomach (well, excluding the bones and fur I guess...), though
digestion doesn't seem so unusual in animals (because it isn't.)
Yes - it was a grotesquely excessive meal for the plant - many
times more food than it needed all year I should think, but
it didn't seem to object, and growth was noticeably enhanced for
many months afterwards.
Anyone who hasn't yet seen the article (complete with gory photos! -
don't log on while you're eating lunch :) can point their browsers
at:
http://www.flytrap.demon.co.uk/grossout.htm
Happy growing,
Peter
+++ Peter Cole, 17 Wimmerfield Cr.,Killay,SWANSEA SA27BU,WALES,UK +++
mailto:carnivor@flytrap.demon.co.uk - http://www.flytrap.demon.co.uk/
++++ Carnivorous Plants, seeds and tissue culture kits for sale ++++
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