scholarly journals Is the common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) carnivorous or was Francis Darwin wrong?

Botany ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 321-328
Author(s):  
James J. Krupa ◽  
J. Matthew Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nutrients ◽  
Carnivorous Plant ◽  
Designed Experiments ◽  
Plant Soil ◽  
High Nutrient ◽  
The Common ◽  
Soil Mix ◽  
Supplemental Nutrients ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Francis Darwin first suggested that the common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum L.), a biennial species, might be a carnivorous plant. He suggested that this species acquires nutrients from insects that drown in water-holding cups formed at the base of leaves that surround the stems. Since then, other biologists have made the same claim. To test this we addressed the question: does adding invertebrates as supplemental nutrients to water-filled cups of D. fullonum influence reproduction or are nutrients only obtained from the soil? We performed two factorial designed experiments (high-nutrient soil vs. low-nutrient soil) × (fed vs. control) to test this. Fed treatments involved either crickets or liquefied animal solution. We performed a third experiment where teasel plants were grown in nutrient deficient standard carnivorous plant soil mix to determine whether prey supplement influenced growth and reproduction. These experiments revealed that soil nutrients alone influence growth and reproduction. More seeds were produced by plants grown in high-nutrient soil; while curiously, a higher percentage of seeds germinated from plants grown in low-nutrient soil. When teasel rosettes were grown in carnivorous plant soil, plants did not grow, produce stems, or flower, even with animal solution. Thus we found no evidence suggesting common teasel is carnivorous.

The nutritional consequences of foraging in primates: the relationship of nutrient intakes to nutrient requirements

1991 ◽  
Vol 334 (1270) ◽  
pp. 161-170 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Selection ◽  
Nutrient Requirements ◽  
Nutrient Intakes ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Nutrient Density ◽  
High Nutrient ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
High Dietary Protein ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Many studies have examined the proportion of time that primates devote to feeding on various types of food, but relatively little is known about the intake rates associated with each food. However, the nutritional consequences of foraging can only be interpreted by comparing nutrient intakes with estimated nutrient requirements. The energy available to primates from ingested foods will depend both on the composition of the food and the extent to which various constituents, including fibre fractions, are digested. Both human and non-human primates have relatively low requirements for protein as a consequence of slow growth rates, small milk yields and relatively dilute milk. Because the nutrient demands of growth and reproduction are spread out over time, it appears that primates do not need to seek out foods of particularly high nutrient density, except perhaps during weaning. Although food selection in some species of primates appears to be correlated with the protein concentration of foods, it is unlikely that high dietary protein levels are required, at least when foods of balanced amino acid composition (such as leaves) are included in the diet.

scholarly journals Calcined Clay Improves Germination of Arid Plant Species

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-93
Author(s):  
Taun Beddes ◽  
Richard Anderson ◽  
Ricardo Ramirez
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Calcined Clay ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Commercial Practice ◽  
Percent Germination ◽  
The Common ◽  
Water Holding

Water conservation efforts in urban landscapes have increased the need for water-wise-plants. A potential source includes multiple native, drought-adapted species. A lack of researched propagation protocols makes commercial production of many species difficult. We examined germination of three native plant species (Purshia stansburiana, Cercocarpus ledifolius, and Forestiera pubescens) in three substrates. Both P. stansburiana and C. ledifolius are endemic to semiarid areas. Forestiera pubescens is found in riparian areas but is drought hardy once established. Stratified seed of each were sown in substrates varying in organic matter (OM) content and water-holding porosity (WHP) characteristics: (1) a commercial germination mix (83% OM); (2) a self-blended combination of a commercial potting soil mixed volumetrically 1:1 with vermiculite (37% OM); and (3) a calcined clay (0% OM). Germination was monitored for 60 days. Percent germination was highest in the calcined clay for each species evaluated (P. stansburiana: 63%, C. ledifolius: 51% and F. pubescens: 83%). These rates were at least 25% greater than the next best medium, the self-blended substrate. The commercial germination blend was the least favorable for germination. These results suggest that the common commercial practice of using germination substrates may not be suited to germinating many species native to arid areas.

scholarly journals The effects of Mo, Cu, Mn on some physiological indexes of common bean variety NHPO4 at seedling stage

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Le Van Trong Trong ◽  
Bui Bao Thinh
Keyword(s):  
Common Bean ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Chlorophyll Content ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Seedling Stage ◽  
Bean Variety ◽  
Physiological Indexes ◽  
The Common ◽  
Water Holding

This paper presents the results about effect of Mo, Cu, Mn to some physiological indexes of common bean variety NHP04 at seedling stage. The results showed that Mo, Cu and Mn affected water content in leaves, water holding capacity, transpiration intensity and chlorophyll content in leaves, in which Mo had the most effect. The results of this research can serve as scientific basis to enhance the tolerance and productivity of the common bean varieties and the plant.

Plant-soil interactions can enhance earth barrier systems in urban spaces 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Boldrin ◽  
Anthony Glyn Bengough ◽  
Jonathan Knappett ◽  
Kenneth Loades ◽  
Anthony Kwan Leung
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
Recycled Concrete ◽  
Soil Columns ◽  
Plant Soil ◽  
Fallow Soil ◽  
Water Holding

<p>Climate change is expected to introduce increasing threats to human health and the urban built environment, due to extreme events such as heavy precipitation. In the urban environment, impermeable hard-engineered surfaces may exacerbate climate change effects and increase the risk of floods. Adaptation solutions are essential to limit the climate change impacts on the urban environment. Research is needed to design new environmentally friendly multi-layer earthen barrier systems that can mimic the natural hydrological processes (e.g., plant-soil interaction) removed by urbanization.</p><p>In this study, potential barrier materials were selected from both natural soils and recycled waste materials (e.g., recycled concrete aggregates). Contrasting herbaceous species (legumes, grasses and forbs) were selected and grown for five months in compacted soil columns and saturated hydraulic conductivity (<em>K</em><sub>sat</sub>) was tested for each soil column. Following <em>K</em><sub>sat</sub> tests, all soil columns were saturated and left for evapo-transpiration. Plant water uptake, matric suction and soil strength (penetration resistance) were measured.</p><p>Among the materials tested in this study, recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) was the most suitable material for the barrier drainage layer, having a <em>K</em><sub>sat</sub> equal to natural gravel, but with 14% lower dry density (2.3 Mg/m<sup>3</sup>) and seven-fold greater water holding capacity (0.08 g/g). However, a portion of the water stored in the RCA was strongly bound to micropores and not available for plants. Plant growth in soil columns increased <em>K</em><sub>sat</sub>. On average <em>K</em><sub>sat</sub> of four-month old vegetated soil (3.2e<sup>-5</sup> ± 2.0e<sup>-6</sup> m/s) was four times larger than that of control fallow soil (6.9e<sup>-6</sup> ± 1.4e<sup>-6</sup> m/s). However, tested species differed in their effect on <em>K</em><sub>sat</sub>, ranging from 9.9e<sup>-6</sup> ± 1.3e<sup>-6</sup> m/s of <em>Festuca ovina</em> (Grass) to 4.1e<sup>-5</sup> ± 3.7e<sup>-6</sup> of <em>Lotus pedunculatus</em> (Legume). In the fallow soil, daily evaporation led to an average water loss of 0.49 ± 0.04 g per 100 g of soil, evapo-transpiration led to a daily water loss up to 2.58 ± 0.10 g per 100 g of soil in<em> Lotus corniculatus</em> columns. Thus, soil drying and induced matric suction strengthened the vegetated soil and further increased its ability to store water. For instance, soil vegetated with <em>L. corniculatus</em> had seven times faster water absorption and twenty-five times greater strength compared with control fallow soil. Plants affected the hydraulic conductivity and water relation of the barrier system. Root systems can increase soil hydraulic conductivity through root-induced channels. This may enable faster drainage during floods, but we found large differences between species. Transpiration restored the water holding capacity of barrier systems after heavy rain events and induced strengthening of soil.</p><p>We suggest that vegetation should not be simply selected for aesthetically “greening” the barrier system, but specifically selected for its role in improving soil engineering function. There is a substantial scope to choose species to manipulate hydrological properties of the barrier system and improve its performance during extreme climate events.</p>

scholarly journals Effects of neighbour location and nutrient distributions on root foraging behaviour of the common sunflower

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1911) ◽  
pp. 20190955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan K. Ljubotina ◽  
James F. Cahill
Keyword(s):  
Root Length ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Root Proliferation ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Patch Occupancy ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Soil Resources ◽  
High Nutrient ◽  
The Common ◽  
Neighbouring Plant

Plants regularly encounter patchily distributed soil nutrients. A common foraging response is to proliferate roots within high-quality patches. The influence of the social environment on this behaviour has been given limited attention, despite important fitness consequences of competition for soil resources among plants. Using the common sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.), we compared localized root proliferation in a high-quality patch by plants grown alone to that of plants in two different social environments: with a neighbouring plant sharing equal access to the high-quality patch, and with a neighbouring plant present but farther from the high-quality patch such that the focal individual was in closer proximity to the high-quality patch. Sunflowers grown alone proliferated more roots within high-nutrient patches than lower-nutrient soil. Plants decreased root proliferation within a high-nutrient patch when it was equidistant to a neighbour. Conversely, plants increased root proliferation when they were in closer proximity to the patch relative to a nearby neighbour. Such contingent responses may allow sunflowers to avoid competition in highly contested patches, but to also pre-empt soil resources from neighbours when they have better access to a high-quality patch. We also compared patch occupancy by sunflowers grown alone with two equidistant high-quality patches to occupancy by sunflowers grown with two high-quality patches and a neighbour. Plants grown with a neighbour decreased root length within shared patches but did not increase root length within high-quality patches they were in closer proximity to, perhaps because resource pre-emption may be less important for individuals when resources are more abundant. These results show that nutrient foraging responses in plants can be socially contingent, and that plants may account for the possibility of pre-empting limited resources in their foraging decisions.

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