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Płachno BJ, Kapusta M, Świątek P. Syncytia in Utricularia: Origin and Structure. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 71:143-155. [PMID: 37996677 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-37936-9_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
In animals and plants, multinucleate cells (syncytia and coenocytes) are essential in ontogeny and reproduction. Fuso-morphogenesis is the formation of multinucleated syncytia by cell-cell fusion, but coenocytes are formed as a result of mitosis without cytokinesis. However, in plants, coenocytes are more widespread than true syncytia. Except for articulated laticifers, most plant syncytia have a trophic function. Here, we summarize the results of histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural analyses of syncytia in the Utricularia species from the Lentibulariaceae family. Utricularia syncytia, known only from a few species, are heterokaryotic because the syncytium possesses nuclei from two different sources: cells of maternal sporophytic nutritive tissue (placenta) and endosperm haustorium. Thus, syncytium contains both maternal and paternal genetic material. In species from section Utricularia, syncytia are highly active structures (with hypertrophied nuclei, cell wall ingrowths, and extensive cytoskeleton) that exist only during embryo development. They serve as an example of evolutionary unique trophic structures in the plant kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz J Płachno
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Kapusta
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Piotr Świątek
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
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2
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Płachno BJ, Kapusta M. The Localization of Cell Wall Components in the Quadrifids of Whole-Mount Immunolabeled Utricularia dichotoma Traps. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:56. [PMID: 38203227 PMCID: PMC10778831 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Utricularia (bladderworts) are carnivorous plants. They produce small hollow vesicles, which function as suction traps that work underwater and capture fine organisms. Inside the traps, there are numerous glandular trichomes (quadrifids), which take part in the secretion of digestive enzymes, the resorption of released nutrients, and likely the pumping out of water. Due to the extreme specialization of quadrifids, they are an interesting model for studying the cell walls. This aim of the study was to fill in the gap in the literature concerning the immunocytochemistry of quadrifids in the major cell wall polysaccharides and glycoproteins. To do this, the localization of the cell wall components in the quadrifids was performed using whole-mount immunolabeled Utricularia traps. It was observed that only parts (arms) of the terminal cells had enough discontinuous cuticle to be permeable to antibodies. There were different patterns of the cell wall components in the arms of the terminal cells of the quadrifids. The cell walls of the arms were especially rich in low-methyl-esterified homogalacturonan. Moreover, various arabinogalactan proteins also occurred. Cell walls in glandular cells of quadrifids were rich in low-methyl-esterified homogalacturonan; in contrast, in the aquatic carnivorous plant Aldrovanda vesiculosa, cell walls in the glandular cells of digestive glands were poor in low-methyl-esterified homogalacturonan. Arabinogalactan proteins were found in the cell walls of trap gland cells in all studied carnivorous plants: Utricularia, and members of Droseraceae and Drosophyllaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz J. Płachno
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 9 Gronostajowa St., 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Kapusta
- Laboratory of Bioimaging, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza St., 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland;
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Gunathilaka N, Perera R, Amerasinghe D, Udayanga L. Laboratory scale evaluation of the feasibility of locally found bladderworts as biological agents to control dengue vector, Aedes aegypti in Sri Lanka. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:461. [PMID: 37789290 PMCID: PMC10548707 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04454-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The carnivorous genus Utricularia also includes aquatic species that have the potential to trap a wide range of prey, leading its death due to anoxia. However, the effectiveness of such an approach with carnivorous plants for vector control has not been evaluated in Sri Lanka. METHODS Early instar (i & ii) and late instar (iii & iv) larvae of Aedes aegypti were exposed to locally found bladderwort (U. aurea Lour and Utricularia sp.). The experimental design was set with 10 larvae (both early and late instars separately) in 250 mL of water with bladderworts containing approximately 100 bladders in plant segments of both species, separately. Each treatment and control were repeated 50 times. The survival status of larvae was recorded daily until death or adult emergence. The larvae found whole or partially inside the bladders were attributed to direct predation. The Cox-regression model and Mantel-Cox log rank test were carried out to assess the survival probabilities of larvae in the presence of two bladderworts separately. RESULTS The highest predation was observed when using early instar larvae in both U. aurea (97.8%) and Utricularia sp. (83.8%). The mortality caused due to predation by U. aurea was observed to be significantly higher according to the Mantel-Cox log-rank test (HR = 60.71, CI; 5.69-999.25, P = 0.004). The mortality rates of late instar stages of Ae. aegypti were observed to be lower in both U. aurea (82.6%) and Utricularia sp. (74.8%). Overall, the highest predation efficacy was detected from U. aurea (HR = 45.02; CI: 5.96-850.51, P = 0.017) even in late instar stages. The results suggested the cumulative predation in both plants on Ae. aegypti larvae was > 72%. CONCLUSIONS Utricularia aurea is a competent predator of Ae. aegypti larvae. Further, it is recommended to evaluate the feasibility of this plant to be used in the field as a control intervention in integrated vector management programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayana Gunathilaka
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka
| | - Ravina Perera
- Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Dalugama, Sri Lanka
| | - Deepika Amerasinghe
- Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Dalugama, Sri Lanka
| | - Lahiru Udayanga
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Makadura, Sri Lanka
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4
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Castaldi V, Bellino A, Baldantoni D. The ecology of bladderworts: The unique hunting-gathering-farming strategy in plants. FOOD WEBS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2023.e00273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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Immunocytochemical Analysis of Bifid Trichomes in Aldrovanda vesiculosa L. Traps. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043358. [PMID: 36834769 PMCID: PMC9958864 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The two-armed bifids (bifid trichomes) occur on the external (abaxial) trap surface, petiole, and stem of the aquatic carnivorous plant Aldrovanda vesiculosa (Droseracee). These trichomes play the role of mucilage trichomes. This study aimed to fill the gap in the literature concerning the immunocytochemistry of the bifid trichomes and compare them with digestive trichomes. Light and electron microscopy was used to show the trichome structure. Fluorescence microscopy revealed the localization of carbohydrate epitopes associated with the major cell wall polysaccharides and glycoproteins. The stalk cells and the basal cells of the trichomes were differentiated as endodermal cells. Cell wall ingrowths occurred in all cell types of the bifid trichomes. Trichome cells differed in the composition of their cell walls. The cell walls of the head cells and stalk cells were enriched with arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs); however, they were generally poor in both low- and highly-esterified homogalacturonans (HGs). The cell walls in the trichome cells were rich in hemicelluloses: xyloglucan and galactoxyloglucan. The cell wall ingrowths in the basal cells were significantly enriched with hemicelluloses. The presence of endodermal cells and transfer cells supports the idea that bifid trichomes actively transport solutes, which are polysaccharide in nature. The presence of AGPs (which are considered plant signaling molecules) in the cell walls in these trichome cells indicates the active and important role of these trichomes in plant function. Future research should focus on the question of how the molecular architecture of trap cell walls changes in cells during trap development and prey capture and digestion in A. vesiculosa and other carnivorous plants.
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Kruppert S, Horstmann M, Weiss LC, Konopka E, Kubitza N, Poppinga S, Westermeier AS, Speck T, Tollrian R. Facing the Green Threat: A Water Flea's Defenses against a Carnivorous Plant. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6474. [PMID: 35742915 PMCID: PMC9223663 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Every ecosystem shows multiple levels of species interactions, which are often difficult to isolate and to classify regarding their specific nature. For most of the observed interactions, it comes down to either competition or consumption. The modes of consumption are various and defined by the nature of the consumed organism, e.g., carnivory, herbivory, as well as the extent of the consumption, e.g., grazing, parasitism. While the majority of consumers are animals, carnivorous plants can also pose a threat to arthropods. Water fleas of the family Daphniidae are keystone species in many lentic ecosystems. As most abundant filter feeders, they link the primary production to higher trophic levels. As a response to the high predatory pressures, water fleas have evolved various inducible defenses against animal predators. Here we show the first example, to our knowledge, in Ceriodaphnia dubia of such inducible defenses of an animal against a coexisting plant predator, i.e., the carnivorous bladderwort (Utricularia x neglecta Lehm, Lentibulariaceae). When the bladderwort is present, C. dubia shows changes in morphology, life history and behavior. While the morphological and behavioral adaptations improve C. dubia's survival rate in the presence of this predator, the life-history parameters likely reflect trade-offs for the defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Kruppert
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany; (M.H.); (L.C.W.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (R.T.)
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, USA
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; (S.P.); (A.S.W.); (T.S.)
| | - Martin Horstmann
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany; (M.H.); (L.C.W.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (R.T.)
| | - Linda C. Weiss
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany; (M.H.); (L.C.W.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (R.T.)
| | - Elena Konopka
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany; (M.H.); (L.C.W.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (R.T.)
| | - Nadja Kubitza
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany; (M.H.); (L.C.W.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (R.T.)
| | - Simon Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; (S.P.); (A.S.W.); (T.S.)
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Botanical Garden, Department of Biology, Schnittspahnstraße 2, Technical University of Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Anna S. Westermeier
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; (S.P.); (A.S.W.); (T.S.)
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; (S.P.); (A.S.W.); (T.S.)
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Ralph Tollrian
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany; (M.H.); (L.C.W.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (R.T.)
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Miranda VFO, Silva SR, Reut MS, Dolsan H, Stolarczyk P, Rutishauser R, Płachno BJ. A Historical Perspective of Bladderworts ( Utricularia): Traps, Carnivory and Body Architecture. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10122656. [PMID: 34961127 PMCID: PMC8707321 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The genus Utricularia includes around 250 species of carnivorous plants, commonly known as bladderworts. The generic name Utricularia was coined by Carolus Linnaeus in reference to the carnivorous organs (Utriculus in Latin) present in all species of the genus. Since the formal proposition by Linnaeus, many species of Utricularia were described, but only scarce information about the biology for most species is known. All Utricularia species are herbs with vegetative organs that do not follow traditional models of morphological classification. Since the formal description of Utricularia in the 18th century, the trap function has intrigued naturalists. Historically, the traps were regarded as floating organs, a common hypothesis that was maintained by different botanists. However, Charles Darwin was most likely the first naturalist to refute this idea, since even with the removal of all traps, the plants continued to float. More recently, due mainly to methodological advances, detailed studies on the trap function and mechanisms could be investigated. This review shows a historical perspective on Utricularia studies which focuses on the traps and body organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor F. O. Miranda
- Laboratory of Plant Systematics, Department of Applied Biology, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Campus Jaboticabal, UNESP—São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal CEP 14884-900, Brazil; (S.R.S.); (H.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Saura R. Silva
- Laboratory of Plant Systematics, Department of Applied Biology, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Campus Jaboticabal, UNESP—São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal CEP 14884-900, Brazil; (S.R.S.); (H.D.)
| | - Markus S. Reut
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gronostajowa 9 St., 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (M.S.R.); (B.J.P.)
| | - Hugo Dolsan
- Laboratory of Plant Systematics, Department of Applied Biology, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Campus Jaboticabal, UNESP—São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal CEP 14884-900, Brazil; (S.R.S.); (H.D.)
| | - Piotr Stolarczyk
- Department of Botany, Physiology and Plant Protection, Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, University of Agriculture in Kraków, al. 29 Listopada 54, 31-425 Kraków, Poland;
| | - Rolf Rutishauser
- Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Bartosz J. Płachno
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gronostajowa 9 St., 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (M.S.R.); (B.J.P.)
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8
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Kim Y, van den Berg J, Crosby AJ. Autonomous snapping and jumping polymer gels. NATURE MATERIALS 2021; 20:1695-1701. [PMID: 33526877 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-020-00909-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Snap-through buckling is commonly used in nature for power-amplified movements. While natural examples such as Utricularia and Dionaea muscipula can autonomously reset their snapping structures, bio-inspired analogues require external mediation for sequential snap events. Here we report the design principles for self-repeating, snap-based polymer jumping devices. Transient shape changes during the drying of a polymer gel are exploited to generate mechanical constraint and an internal driving force for snap-through buckling. Snap-induced shape changes alter environmental interactions to realize multiple, self-repeating snap events. The underlying mechanisms are understood through controlled experiments and numerical modelling. Using these lessons, we create snap-induced jumping devices with power density outputs (specific power ≈ 312 W kg-1) that are similar to high-performing jumping organisms and engineered robots. These results provide the demonstration of an autonomous, self-repeating, high-speed movement, marking an important advance in the development of environmental energy harvesting, high-power motion that is important for microscale robots and actuated devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjin Kim
- Polymer Science & Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jay van den Berg
- Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Alfred J Crosby
- Polymer Science & Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
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9
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3D Reticulated Actuator Inspired by Plant Up-Righting Movement Through a Cortical Fiber Network. Biomimetics (Basel) 2021; 6:biomimetics6020033. [PMID: 34071936 PMCID: PMC8161443 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics6020033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Since most plant movements take place through an interplay of elastic deformation and strengthening tissues, they are thus ideal concept generators for biomimetic hingeless actuators. In the framework of a biomimetic biology push process, we present the transfer of the functional movement principles of hollow tubular geometries that are surrounded by a net-like structure. Our plant models are the recent genera Ochroma (balsa) and Carica (papaya) as well as the fossil seed fern Lyginopteris oldhamia, which hold a net of macroscopic fiber structures enveloping the whole trunk. Asymmetries in these fiber nets, which are specifically caused by asymmetric growth of the secondary wood, enable the up-righting of inclined Ochroma and Carica stems. In a tubular net-like structure, the fiber angles play a crucial role in stress–strain relationships. When braided tubes are subjected to internal pressure, they become shorter and thicker if the fiber angle is greater than 54.7°. However, if the fiber angle is less than 54.7°, they become longer and thinner. In this article, we use straightforward functional demonstrators to show how insights into functional principles from living nature can be transferred into plant-inspired actuators with linear or asymmetric deformation.
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10
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Bauer U, Müller UK, Poppinga S. Complexity and diversity of motion amplification and control strategies in motile carnivorous plant traps. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210771. [PMID: 34036802 PMCID: PMC8150269 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Similar to animals, plants have evolved mechanisms for elastic energy storage and release to power and control rapid motion, yet both groups have been largely studied in isolation. This is exacerbated by the lack of consistent terminology and conceptual frameworks describing elastically powered motion in both groups. Iconic examples of fast movements can be found in carnivorous plants, which have become important models to study biomechanics, developmental processes, evolution and ecology. Trapping structures and processes vary considerably between different carnivorous plant groups. Using snap traps, suction traps and springboard-pitfall traps as examples, we illustrate how traps mix and match various mechanisms to power, trigger and actuate motions that contribute to prey capture, retention and digestion. We highlight a fundamental trade-off between energetic investment and movement control and discuss it in a functional-ecological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Bauer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ulrike K Müller
- Department of Biology, California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA, USA
| | - Simon Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT-Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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11
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Snapshot prey spectrum analysis of the phylogenetically early-diverging carnivorous Utricularia multifida from U. section Polypompholyx (Lentibulariaceae). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249976. [PMID: 33826676 PMCID: PMC8026053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Utricularia multifida is carnivorous bladderwort from Western Australia and belongs to a phylogenetically early-diverging lineage of the genus. We present a prey spectrum analysis resulting from a snapshot sampling of 17 traps-the first of this species to our knowledge. The most abundant prey groups were Ostracoda, Copepoda, and Cladocera. The genus cf. Cypretta (Cyprididae, Ostracoda) was the predominant prey. However, a high variety of other prey organisms with different taxonomic backgrounds was also detected. Our results indicate that U. multifida may potentially be specialized in capturing substrate-bound prey. Future approaches should sample plants from different localities to allow for robust comparative analyses.
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12
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Tian Z, Xu B, Wan G, Han X, Di Z, Chen Z, Mei Y. Gaussian-preserved, non-volatile shape morphing in three-dimensional microstructures for dual-functional electronic devices. Nat Commun 2021; 12:509. [PMID: 33479220 PMCID: PMC7820288 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20843-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Motile plant structures such as Mimosa pudica leaves, Impatiens glandulifera seedpods, and Dionaea muscipula leaves exhibit fast nastic movements in a few seconds or less. This motion is stimuli-independent mechanical movement following theorema egregium rules. Artificial analogs of tropistic motion in plants are exemplified by shape-morphing systems, which are characterized by high functional robustness and resilience for creating 3D structures. However, all shape-morphing systems developed so far rely exclusively on continuous external stimuli and result in slow response. Here, we report a Gaussian-preserved shape-morphing system to realize ultrafast shape morphing and non-volatile reconfiguration. Relying on the Gaussian-preserved rules, the transformation can be triggered by mechanical or thermal stimuli within a microsecond. Moreover, as localized energy minima are encountered during shape morphing, non-volatile configuration is preserved by geometrically enhanced rigidity. Using this system, we demonstrate a suite of electronic devices that are reconfigurable, and therefore, expand functional diversification. Designing the functional diversification of electronic devices with morphable 3D structures in multistable states remains a challenge. Here, the authors present a Gaussian-preserved shape-morphing system to realize ultrafast shape morphing and non-volatile reconfiguration developing dual-functional electronic devices, such as switch, actuator, and antenna on microscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziao Tian
- Department of Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of ASIC and Systems, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.,State Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
| | - Borui Xu
- Department of Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of ASIC and Systems, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Guangchao Wan
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Xiaomin Han
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Zengfeng Di
- State Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
| | - Zi Chen
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Yongfeng Mei
- Department of Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of ASIC and Systems, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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13
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Müller UK, Berg O, Schwaner JM, Brown MD, Li G, Voesenek CJ, van Leeuwen JL. Bladderworts, the smallest known suction feeders, generate inertia-dominated flows to capture prey. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 228:586-595. [PMID: 32506423 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic bladderworts (Utricularia gibba and U. australis) capture zooplankton in mechanically triggered underwater traps. With characteristic dimensions less than 1 mm, the trapping structures are among the smallest known to capture prey by suction, a mechanism that is not effective in the creeping-flow regime where viscous forces prevent the generation of fast and energy-efficient suction flows. To understand what makes suction feeding possible on the small scale of bladderwort traps, we characterised their suction flows experimentally (using particle image velocimetry) and mathematically (using computational fluid dynamics and analytical mathematical models). We show that bladderwort traps avoid the adverse effects of creeping flow by generating strong, fast-onset suction pressures. Our findings suggest that traps use three morphological adaptations: the trap walls' fast release of elastic energy ensures strong and constant suction pressure; the trap door's fast opening ensures effectively instantaneous onset of suction; the short channel leading into the trap ensures undeveloped flow, which maintains a wide effective channel diameter. Bladderwort traps generate much stronger suction flows than larval fish with similar gape sizes because of the traps' considerably stronger suction pressures. However, bladderworts' ability to generate strong suction flows comes at considerable energetic expense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike K Müller
- Department of Biology, California State University Fresno, 2555 E San Ramon Ave, Fresno, CA, 93740, USA
| | - Otto Berg
- Department of Chemistry, California State University Fresno, 2555 E San Ramon Ave, Fresno, CA, 93740, USA
| | - Janneke M Schwaner
- Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3051, Moscow, ID, 83844-3051, USA
| | - Matthew D Brown
- Department of Biology, California State University Fresno, 2555 E San Ramon Ave, Fresno, CA, 93740, USA
| | - Gen Li
- Department of Mathematical Science and Advanced Technology, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Showa-machi, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-city, Kanagawa, 3173-25, 236-0001, Japan
| | - Cees J Voesenek
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, De Elst 1, Wageningen, 6708WD, the Netherlands
| | - Johan L van Leeuwen
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, De Elst 1, Wageningen, 6708WD, the Netherlands
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14
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Deban SM, Holzman R, Müller UK. Suction Feeding by Small Organisms: Performance Limits in Larval Vertebrates and Carnivorous Plants. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:852-863. [PMID: 32658970 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Suction feeding has evolved independently in two highly disparate animal and plant systems, aquatic vertebrates and carnivorous bladderworts. We review the suction performance of animal and plant suction feeders to explore biomechanical performance limits for aquatic feeders based on morphology and kinematics, in the context of current knowledge of suction feeding. While vertebrates have the greatest diversity and size range of suction feeders, bladderworts are the smallest and fastest known suction feeders. Body size has profound effects on aquatic organismal function, including suction feeding, particularly in the intermediate flow regime that tiny organisms can experience. A minority of tiny organisms suction feed, consistent with model predictions that generating effective suction flow is less energetically efficient and also requires more flow-rate specific power at small size. Although the speed of suction flows generally increases with body and gape size, some specialized tiny plant and animal predators generate suction flows greater than those of suction feeders 100 times larger. Bladderworts generate rapid flow via high-energy and high-power elastic recoil and suction feed for nutrients (relying on photosynthesis for energy). Small animals may be limited by available muscle energy and power, although mouth protrusion can offset the performance cost of not generating high suction pressure. We hypothesize that both the high energetic costs and high power requirements of generating rapid suction flow shape the biomechanics of small suction feeders, and that plants and animals have arrived at different solutions due in part to their different energy budgets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Deban
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, SCA 110, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Roi Holzman
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel.,The Inter-University for Marine Sciences in Eilat, Israel
| | - Ulrike K Müller
- Department of Biology, California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA 93740, USA
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15
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Kim KW. Methanol fixation for scanning electron microscopy of plants. Appl Microsc 2020; 50:10. [PMID: 33580311 PMCID: PMC7818355 DOI: 10.1186/s42649-020-00028-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant specimens for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are commonly treated using standard protocols. Conventional fixatives consist of toxic chemicals such as glutaraldehyde, paraformaldehyde, and osmium tetroxide. In 1996, methanol fixation was reported as a rapid alternative to the standard protocols. If specimens are immersed in methanol for 30 s or longer and critical-point dried, they appear to be comparable in preservation quality to those treated with the chemical fixatives. A modified version that consists of methanol fixation and ethanol dehydration was effective at preserving the tissue morphology and dimensions. These solvent-based fixation and dehydration protocols are regarded as rapid and simple alternatives to standard protocols for SEM of plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Woo Kim
- School of Ecology and Environmental System, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, 37224, Republic of Korea. .,Tree Diagnostic Center, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, 37224, South Korea.
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16
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Suction Flows Generated by the Carnivorous Bladderwort Utricularia—Comparing Experiments with Mechanical and Mathematical Models. FLUIDS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/fluids5010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Suction feeding is a well-understood feeding mode among macroscopic aquatic organisms. The little we know about small suction feeders from larval fish suggests that small suction feeders are not effective. Yet bladderworts, an aquatic carnivorous plant with microscopic underwater traps, have strong suction performances despite having the same mouth size as that of fish larvae. Previous experimental studies of bladderwort suction feeding have focused on the solid mechanics of the trap door’s opening mechanism rather than the mechanics of fluid flow. As flows are difficult to study in small suction feeders due to their small size and brief event durations, we combine flow visualization on bladderwort traps with measurements on a mechanical, dynamically scaled model of a suction feeder. We find that bladderwort traps generate flows that are more similar to the inertia-dominated flows of adult fish than the viscosity-dominated flows of larval fish. Our data further suggest that axial flow transects through suction flow fields, often used in biological studies to characterize suction flows, are less diagnostic of the relative contribution of inertia versus viscosity than transverse transects.
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17
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Abstract
Whitewoods introduces the plant genus Utricularia.
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18
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Poppinga S, Smaij J, Westermeier AS, Horstmann M, Kruppert S, Tollrian R, Speck T. Prey capture analyses in the carnivorous aquatic waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa L., Droseraceae). Sci Rep 2019; 9:18590. [PMID: 31819121 PMCID: PMC6901478 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54857-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the predator-prey interactions between an Australian ecotype of the carnivorous waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Droseraceae) and its potential natural prey, the water flea Daphnia longicephala (Daphniidae), which also occurs in Australia. A. vesiculosa develops snap-traps, which close within ~10-100 ms after mechanical triggering by zooplankton prey. Prey capture attempts (PCAs) were recorded via high-speed cinematography in the laboratory. From 14 recorded PCAs, nine were successful for the plant (the prey was caught), and five were unsuccessful (prey could escape), resulting in a capture rate of ~64%. The prey animals' locomotion behaviour (antenna beat frequency and movement type) in trap vicinity or inside the open traps is very variable. Traps were mainly triggered with the second antennae. During trap closure, the animals moved only very little actively. A flight response in reaction to an initiated trap closure was not observed. However, several animals could escape, either by having a "lucky" starting position already outside the triggered trap, by freeing themselves after trap closure, or by being pressed out by the closing trap lobes. According to our observations in the successful PCAs, we hypothesize that the convex curvature of the two trap lobes (as seen from the outside) and the infolded trap rims are structural means supporting the capture and retention of prey. Our results are discussed in a broader biological context and promising aspects for future studies are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
| | - Jassir Smaij
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Anna Sofia Westermeier
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Martin Horstmann
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kruppert
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Seattle, US
| | - Ralph Tollrian
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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19
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Lee KJI, Bushell C, Koide Y, Fozard JA, Piao C, Yu M, Newman J, Whitewoods C, Avondo J, Kennaway R, Marée AFM, Cui M, Coen E. Shaping of a three-dimensional carnivorous trap through modulation of a planar growth mechanism. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000427. [PMID: 31600203 PMCID: PMC6786542 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leaves display a remarkable range of forms, from flat sheets with simple outlines to cup-shaped traps. Although much progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of planar leaf development, it is unclear whether similar or distinctive mechanisms underlie shape transformations during development of more complex curved forms. Here, we use 3D imaging and cellular and clonal analysis, combined with computational modelling, to analyse the development of cup-shaped traps of the carnivorous plant Utricularia gibba. We show that the transformation from a near-spherical form at early developmental stages to an oblate spheroid with a straightened ventral midline in the mature form can be accounted for by spatial variations in rates and orientations of growth. Different hypotheses regarding spatiotemporal control predict distinct patterns of cell shape and size, which were tested experimentally by quantifying cellular and clonal anisotropy. We propose that orientations of growth are specified by a proximodistal polarity field, similar to that hypothesised to account for Arabidopsis leaf development, except that in Utricularia, the field propagates through a highly curved tissue sheet. Independent evidence for the polarity field is provided by the orientation of glandular hairs on the inner surface of the trap. Taken together, our results show that morphogenesis of complex 3D leaf shapes can be accounted for by similar mechanisms to those for planar leaves, suggesting that simple modulations of a common growth framework underlie the shaping of a diverse range of morphologies. Many plant and animal organs derive from tissue sheets, but how are they shaped to create the diversity of forms observed in nature? This study uses a combination of imaging and mathematical modelling to show how carnivorous plant traps shape themselves in 3D by a growth framework oriented by tissue polarity, similar to that found in planar leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen J. I. Lee
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Bushell
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Yohei Koide
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - John A. Fozard
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Chunlan Piao
- College of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Linan, Zhejiang, China
| | - Man Yu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Jacob Newman
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Whitewoods
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Jerome Avondo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Kennaway
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Athanasius F. M. Marée
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Minlong Cui
- College of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Linan, Zhejiang, China
- * E-mail: (EC); (MC)
| | - Enrico Coen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (EC); (MC)
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20
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Berg O, Brown MD, Schwaner MJ, Hall MR, Müller UK. Hydrodynamics of the bladderwort feeding strike. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2019; 333:29-37. [PMID: 31545010 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The aquatic bladderwort Utricularia gibba captures zooplankton in mechanically triggered underwater traps. With characteristic dimensions <1 mm, the trapping structures are among the smallest known that work by suction-a mechanism that would not be effective in the creeping-flow regime. To understand the adaptations that make suction feeding possible on this small scale, we have measured internal flow speeds during artificially triggered feeding strikes in the absence of prey. These data are compared with complementary analytical models of the suction event: an inviscid model of the jet development in time and a steady-state model incorporating friction. The initial dynamics are well described by a time-dependent Bernoulli equation in which the action of the trap door is represented by a step increase in driving pressure. According to this model, the observed maximum flow speed (5.2 m/s) depends only on the pressure difference, whereas the initial acceleration (3 × 104 m/s2 ) is determined by pressure difference and channel length. Because the terminal speed is achieved quickly (~0.2 ms) and the channel is short, the remainder of the suction event (~2.0 ms) is effectively an undeveloped viscous steady state. The steady-state model predicts that only 17% of power is lost to friction. The energy efficiency and steady-state fluid speed decrease rapidly with decreasing channel diameter, setting a lower limit on practical bladderwort size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Berg
- Department of Chemistry, California State University, Fresno, California
| | - Matthew D Brown
- Department of Biology, California State University, Fresno, California
| | | | - Maxwell R Hall
- Department of Biology, California State University, Fresno, California
| | - Ulrike K Müller
- Department of Biology, California State University, Fresno, California
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21
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Longo SJ, Cox SM, Azizi E, Ilton M, Olberding JP, St Pierre R, Patek SN. Beyond power amplification: latch-mediated spring actuation is an emerging framework for the study of diverse elastic systems. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:222/15/jeb197889. [PMID: 31399509 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.197889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Rapid biological movements, such as the extraordinary strikes of mantis shrimp and accelerations of jumping insects, have captivated generations of scientists and engineers. These organisms store energy in elastic structures (e.g. springs) and then rapidly release it using latches, such that movement is driven by the rapid conversion of stored elastic to kinetic energy using springs, with the dynamics of this conversion mediated by latches. Initially drawn to these systems by an interest in the muscle power limits of small jumping insects, biologists established the idea of power amplification, which refers both to a measurement technique and to a conceptual framework defined by the mechanical power output of a system exceeding muscle limits. However, the field of fast elastically driven movements has expanded to encompass diverse biological and synthetic systems that do not have muscles - such as the surface tension catapults of fungal spores and launches of plant seeds. Furthermore, while latches have been recognized as an essential part of many elastic systems, their role in mediating the storage and release of elastic energy from the spring is only now being elucidated. Here, we critically examine the metrics and concepts of power amplification and encourage a framework centered on latch-mediated spring actuation (LaMSA). We emphasize approaches and metrics of LaMSA systems that will forge a pathway toward a principled, interdisciplinary field.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Longo
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - S M Cox
- Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - E Azizi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - M Ilton
- Department of Physics, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - J P Olberding
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - R St Pierre
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - S N Patek
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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22
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Morris RJ, Blyth M. How water flow, geometry, and material properties drive plant movements. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:3549-3560. [PMID: 31112593 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Plants are dynamic. They adjust their shape for feeding, defence, and reproduction. Such plant movements are critical for their survival. We present selected examples covering a range of movements from single cell to tissue level and over a range of time scales. We focus on reversible turgor-driven shape changes. Recent insights into the mechanisms of stomata, bladderwort, the waterwheel, and the Venus flytrap are presented. The underlying physical principles (turgor, osmosis, membrane permeability, wall stress, snap buckling, and elastic instability) are highlighted, and advances in our understanding of these processes are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Morris
- Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK
| | - Mark Blyth
- School of Mathematics, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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23
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Horstmann M, Heier L, Kruppert S, Weiss LC, Tollrian R, Adamec L, Westermeier A, Speck T, Poppinga S. Comparative Prey Spectra Analyses on the Endangered Aquatic Carnivorous Waterwheel Plant ( Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Droseraceae) at Several Naturalized Microsites in the Czech Republic and Germany. Integr Org Biol 2019; 1:oby012. [PMID: 33793692 PMCID: PMC7671111 DOI: 10.1093/iob/oby012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The critically endangered carnivorous waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Droseraceae) possesses underwater snap traps for capturing small aquatic animals, but knowledge on the exact prey species is limited. Such information would be essential for continuing ecological research, drawing conclusions regarding trapping efficiency and trap evolution, and eventually, for conservation. Therefore, we performed comparative trap size measurements and snapshot prey analyses at seven Czech and one German naturalized microsites on plants originating from at least two different populations. One Czech site was sampled twice during 2017. We recorded seven main prey taxonomic groups, that is, Cladocera, Copepoda, Ostracoda, Ephemeroptera, Nematocera, Hydrachnidia, and Pulmonata. In total, we recorded 43 different prey taxa in 445 prey-filled traps, containing in sum 461 prey items. With one exception, prey spectra did not correlate with site conditions (e.g. water depth) or trap size. Our data indicate that A. vesiculosa shows no prey specificity but catches opportunistically, independent of prey species, prey mobility mode (swimming or substrate-bound), and speed of movement. Even in cases where the prey size exceeded trap size, successful capture was accomplished by clamping the animal between the traps' lobes. As we found a wide prey range that was attracted, it appears unlikely that the capture is enhanced by specialized chemical- or mimicry-based attraction mechanisms. However, for animals seeking shelter, a place to rest, or a substrate to graze on, A. vesiculosa may indirectly attract prey organisms in the vicinity, whereas other prey capture events (like that of comparably large notonectids) may also be purely coincidental.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Horstmann
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - L Heier
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - S Kruppert
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, 620 University Road, WA 98250, USA
| | - L C Weiss
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - R Tollrian
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - L Adamec
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Dukelská 135, CZ-379 82, Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - A Westermeier
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, D-79104, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 105, D-79110, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - T Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, D-79104, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 105, D-79110, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, D-79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - S Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, D-79104, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, D-79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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24
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Płachno BJ, Świątek P, Miranda VFO, Stolarczyk P. The Structure and Occurrence of a Velum in Utricularia Traps ( Lentibulariaceae). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:302. [PMID: 31001290 PMCID: PMC6454230 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Bladderworts (Utricularia, Lentibulariaceae, Lamiales) are carnivorous plants that form small suction traps (bladders) for catching invertebrates. The velum is a cuticle structure that is produced by specialized trichomes of the threshold pavement epithelium. It is believed that the velum together with the mucilage seals the free edge of the trap door and that it is necessary for correct functioning of the trap. However, recently, some authors have questioned the occurrence of a velum in the traps of the Utricularia from the various sections. The main aim of this study was to confirm whether velum occurs in the traps of the Utricularia species from the subgenera Polypompholyx, Bivalvaria, and Utricularia. The 15 species were examined from subg. Polypompholyx, subg. Bivalvaria, and subg. Utricularia. A velum was found in all examined Utricularia species. In the traps of the members of section Pleiochasia, there was an outer velum (forming a complete ring) and an inner velum. In the traps of Utricularia uniflora (Lasiocaules), there was only an inner velum. In these species, the formation of the velum was accompanied by intensive mucilage production, and as a result, when door was closed (set position), the mucilage and the velum touched the surface of the door. In members of both sections of Pleiochasia and Lasiocaules, the pavement epithelium had a more complicated structure (four to five zones) than in the members of the subgenera Bivalvaria and Utricularia in which three distinct zones occurred (an outer with a velum, a middle and an internal with the mucilage trichomes). Even in U. purpurea, where the threshold was a reduced pavement epithelium, it consisted of three functional zones and the presence of a velum. Two main types of velum have been proposed. A velum was present in Utricularia traps regardless of the trap type or the habitat (aquatic, epiphytic, and terrestrial species). We proposed broad definition of velum as cuticle membranes covered by mucilage; from a functional point of view, this definition is more useful and more reflects complexity of this structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz J. Płachno
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Cracow, Poland
| | - Piotr Świątek
- Department of Animal Histology and Embryology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Vitor F. O. Miranda
- Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Jaboticabal, Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária, UNESP–Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Piotr Stolarczyk
- Unit of Botany and Plant Physiology, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Cracow, Poland
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25
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Kruppert S, Deussen L, Weiss LC, Horstmann M, Wolff JO, Kleinteich T, Gorb SN, Tollrian R. Zooplankters' nightmare: The fast and efficient catching basket of larval phantom midges (Diptera: Chaoborus). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214013. [PMID: 30901351 PMCID: PMC6430396 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Filter feeding zooplankton are a crucial component of limnic food webs. Copepods and cladocerans are important prey organisms for first-level predators like the common and abundant larvae of phantom midges (Chaoborus sp.). The latter possess a complex catching basket built of head appendages specialized to capture small crustaceans. The predator-prey-relationship of Chaoborus (Diptera, Nematocera) and Daphnia (Crustacea, Cladocera) has been studied in particular detail owing to the daphniids’ ability to react upon the threat of predation with inducible defenses. Daphnia pulex expresses so-called ‘neckteeth’ in the presence of Chaoborus larvae that are discussed as a defensive trait that interferes with the larval head appendages and their effectiveness has been shown in several studies. Nonetheless, mode of function of these neckteeth is not understood and the hypothesis that they interfere with the predator’s head appendages still has to be confirmed. To clarify the role of neckteeth in Daphnia, an understanding of the Chaoborus capture apparatus is essential. Here, we present a detailed three-dimensional analysis of Chaoborus obscuripes’ larval head morphology as well as a kinematic analysis of the attack motion, which revealed an impressive strike velocity (14 ms to prey contact). The movement of the larvae’s head appendages is reconstructed in the three-dimensional space using a combination of high-speed videography, micro-computed tomography and computer animation. Furthermore, we provide predation trial data to distinguish between pre- and post-attack defensive effects in D. pulex. Our findings suggest a combination of pre- and post-attack defenses with an average effectiveness of 50% each. With this study, we quantitatively describe prey capture kinematics of C. obscuripes and take a further step to reveal the neckteeth’ mode of function in D. pulex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Kruppert
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Lisa Deussen
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Linda C. Weiss
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Martin Horstmann
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jonas O. Wolff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde NSW, Australia
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel, Germany
| | | | | | - Ralph Tollrian
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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26
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Lima FR, Ferreira AJ, Menezes CG, Miranda VFO, Dourado MN, Araújo WL. Cultivated bacterial diversity associated with the carnivorous plant Utricularia breviscapa (Lentibulariaceae) from floodplains in Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2018; 49:714-722. [PMID: 29661568 PMCID: PMC6175710 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjm.2017.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Carnivorous plant species, such as Utricularia spp., capture and digest prey. This digestion can occur through the secretion of plant digestive enzymes and/or by bacterial digestive enzymes. To comprehend the physiological mechanisms of carnivorous plants, it is essential to understand the microbial diversity related to these plants. Therefore, in the present study, we isolated and classified bacteria from different organs of Utricularia breviscapa (stolons and utricles) and from different geographic locations (São Paulo and Mato Grosso). We were able to build the first bacterium collection for U. breviscapa and study the diversity of cultivable bacteria. The results show that U. breviscapa bacterial diversity varied according to the geographic isolation site (São Paulo and Mato Grosso) but not the analyzed organs (utricle and stolon). We reported that six genera were common to both sample sites (São Paulo and Mato Grosso). These genera have previously been reported to be beneficial to plants, as well as related to the bioremediation process, showing that these isolates present great biotechnological and agricultural potential. This is the first report of an Acidobacteria isolated from U. breviscapa. The role of these bacteria inside the plant must be further investigated in order to understand their population dynamics within the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Rezende Lima
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374-Ed. Biomédicas II, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Núcleo Integrado de Biotecnologia, NIB, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, Av. Dr. Cândido Xavier de Almeida Souza, 200, Centro cívico, 08780-911 Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
| | - Almir José Ferreira
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374-Ed. Biomédicas II, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Núcleo Integrado de Biotecnologia, NIB, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, Av. Dr. Cândido Xavier de Almeida Souza, 200, Centro cívico, 08780-911 Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
| | - Cristine Gobbo Menezes
- Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Via de acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Centro, 14884-900 Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Vitor Fernandes Oliveira Miranda
- Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Via de acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Centro, 14884-900 Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Manuella Nóbrega Dourado
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374-Ed. Biomédicas II, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Welington Luiz Araújo
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374-Ed. Biomédicas II, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Núcleo Integrado de Biotecnologia, NIB, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, Av. Dr. Cândido Xavier de Almeida Souza, 200, Centro cívico, 08780-911 Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil.
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27
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Westermeier AS, Fleischmann A, Müller K, Schäferhoff B, Rubach C, Speck T, Poppinga S. Trap diversity and character evolution in carnivorous bladderworts (Utricularia, Lentibulariaceae). Sci Rep 2017; 7:12052. [PMID: 28935893 PMCID: PMC5608911 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12324-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Bladderworts (Utricularia, Lentibulariaceae, Lamiales) constitute the largest genus of carnivorous plants but only aquatic species (about one fifth of the genus) have so far been thoroughly studied as to their suction trap functioning. In this study, we comparatively investigated trap biomechanics in 19 Utricularia species to examine correlations between life-forms, trapping mechanisms, and functional-morphological traits. Our investigations show the existence of two functional trap principles (passive trap in U. multifida vs. active suction traps), and - in active suction traps - three main trapdoor movement types (with several subtypes). The trapdoor movement types and their corresponding functional-morphological features most presumably represent adaptations to the respective habitat. We furthermore give insights into fluid dynamics during suction in three representatives of the main types of trapdoor movement. The results on functional morphology and trapdoor movement were mapped onto a new phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus, derived from the rapidly evolving chloroplast regions trnK, rps16 and trnQ-rps16 and a sampling of 105 Utricularia species in total. We discuss potential scenarios of trap character evolution and species radiation, highlighting possible key innovations that enable such a unique carnivorous lifestyle in different habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sofia Westermeier
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, D-79104, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, D-79110, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Andreas Fleischmann
- Botanische Staatssammlung München, Menzinger Straße 67, D-80638, München, Germany
- GeoBio-Center LMU, Center of Geobiology and Biodiversity Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, München, Germany
| | - Kai Müller
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut für Evolution und Biodiversität, AG Evolution und Biodiversität der Pflanzen, Hüfferstraße 1, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Bastian Schäferhoff
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut für Evolution und Biodiversität, AG Evolution und Biodiversität der Pflanzen, Hüfferstraße 1, D-48149, Münster, Germany
- PAN Institut für Endokrinologie und Reproduktionsmedizin, Zeppelinstraße 1, D-50667, Köln, Germany
| | - Carmen Rubach
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, D-79104, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, D-79104, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, D-79110, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Simon Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, D-79104, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
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