Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 19:48:43 -0700 From: ricell@juno.com To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3485$foo@default> Subject: Re: sub carnivores
Howdy Dave and others interested in this thread.
On Mon, 2 Nov 1998 dave evans writes:
> If the plant is unable to "taste" and react to the "prey" by
>digesting it, then I wouldn't say the plant can eat. Would you?
Howdy Dave and anyone else following this thread!
Actually, I could very easily. If a plant can attract, capture and
absorb nutrients from prey then I think it could well be carnivorous
regardless of whether or not it secretes digestive enzymes. If the plant
achieves digestion by creating a symbiotic relationship with bacteria and
or fungi then that works for me. In the animal world, ruminants are
quite dependent on bacteria for many critical steps in the digestion
process but that certainly doesn't make them any less herbivorous! By
creating a pool of fluid, any pitcher plant will create a suitable
environment for bacteria, and any insect sitting in a pool of bacteria
laden fluid will be broken down - it just takes more time.
To me the critical question is: Does the plant absorb nutrients from the
captured prey and is this "significant" to the plant? Of course
"significant" is a subjective term and a difficult question to answer -
much harder than the yes/no answer of digestive enzymes. In the case of
carnivorous bromeliads, to me the pertinent questions are - do Catopsis
and Brocchinia capture and absorb the nutrients of insects any better
than other Bromeliads and do the absrobed nutrients significantly benefit
the plant? I don't know the answer to those questions.
Absorption of nutrients does not seem simple to test either.
Radiolabelled insects come to mind but that can be an expensive and
specialized procedure. But I don't think carnivorous plants need by
synonymnous with film digesting plants.
Rich Ellis, Boulder, CO "ricell@juno.com"
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/8564/
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