S3E1: Got Butterflies in Your Stomach? So do Carnivorous Plants!

Hello my autotrophic friends, on today’s episode of the Entangled Bank we are going to get snap-trapped into the world of Carnivorous plants! Join Heterotroph-Harper as we dive into the realm of incredibly unique plant niches. We are here to get some expert advice from two captivating carnivorous plant experts, Dr. Akira Angiosperm and Dr. Evelyn Arthropod! Plant carnivory is an evolutionary response to resource competition in more nutrient rich environments. This peculiar ability to be autotrophic in plants is an adaptation for living in nutrient-poor environments. This adaptation has allowed these Angiosperms to thrive in niche environments which has enabled the emergence and success of over 500 different species of Carnivorous plants. 

You may have some preconceived notions of what a carnivorous plant looks like, but there’s more to these guys than just the stereotypical venus flytrap. Carnivorous plants are strikingly diverse, from the habitats they dwell in to the mechanisms of trapping insects this group of plants could have their own TV show. There are two groups that one carnivorous plant may find themselves in: active or passive trapping. Some carnivorous plant species are active in trapping their prey, by laying out a fanciful preparation of colours and odors to attract an unsuspecting arthropod-snack. Others are opportunists and enjoy the ease and convenience of ‘fast food’ allowing little to no effort in getting their stomachs full; some may say they are lazy but these plants are just highly evolved predators. 

Don’t be worried about having a carnivorous plant as the focal point on your windowsill, they pose no harm to humans. In fact, anthropogenic establishment of new lands has been a major issue in the decline of certain species. Also, before you think your Venus flytrap is lonely and needs a playmate, the over accumulation of domesticated carnivorous plants put these guys at risk. 

We hope your butterflies have settled so you can listen to the next episode in The Entangled Bank Podcast!  

Chase, M. W., M. J. M. Christenhusz, D. Sanders, and M. F. Fay. 2009. Murderous plants: Victorian Gothic, Darwin and modern insights into vegetable carnivory. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 161:329–356.

E. D, Jennings, first, . A review of the conservation threats to carnivorous plants. 2011 May [accessed 2019Oct.3];144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2011.03.013

Givnish, T. J. 2015. New evidence on the origin of carnivorous plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 112:10–11.

Jürgens, A., A. M. El-Sayed, and D. M. Suckling. 2009. Do carnivorous plants use volatiles for attracting prey insects? Functional Ecology 23:875–887.

Karberg, J. M., and M. R. Gale. 2010. Exploration of meaningful subspecies definitions of the carnivorous Northern Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea), throughout its geographic distribution. Conservation Genetics 11:2369–2378.

Płachno BJ. 2012. Quite a few reasons for calling carnivores “ the most wonderful plants in the world ” 47–64.

Schaefer, H. M., and G. D. Ruxton. 2008. Fatal attraction: Carnivorous plants roll out the red carpet to lure insects. Biology Letters 4:153–155.

Simon, Poppinga, first, . Fastest predators in the plant kingdom: functional morphology and biomechanics of suction traps found in the largest genus of carnivorous plants. 2015 Nov.24 [accessed 2019Oct.3];8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plv140

Stephen J, Brewer, first, . Carnivory in plants as a beneficial trait in wetlands. 2011 Feb. [accessed 2019Oct.3];94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2010.11.005