Catopsis berteroniana

Catopsis berteroniana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Bromeliaceae
Genus:	Catopsis
Species:	C. berteroniana
Binomial name
Catopsis berteroniana (Schult. & Schult.f.) Mez

Catopsis berteroniana /kəˈtɒpsɪs ˌbɜrtəˌroʊniˈɑːnə/ is an epiphytic bromeliad thought to be a possible carnivorous plant, similar to Brocchinia reducta, although the evidence is equivocal. Its native range is from southern Florida to southern Brazil.^[1] It generally grows on the unshaded twigs of trees, and appears to trap more insects in its tank than other bromeliads of comparable size.^{[citation needed]} There are several other species in the genus, none of which is believed to be carnivorous.

Characteristics

Catopsis berteroniana is an epiphytic insectivorous plant with tube shaped leaves. These erect leaves overlap to form tube like structures.^[1] These tubes form water-impounding axils characteristic of many tank bromeliads.^[2] Rainwater falls and lands in the axils of the plant forming pools of water called phytotelmata, an aqueous medium filled with copious amounts of nutrients available for the plant to absorb.^[2] This medium is slightly acidic, but very close to neutral; according to algae in bromeliads, the pH of the phytotelmata of Catopsis berteroniana is 6.8.^[3] This species has sessile glands located on the plant epidermis that are used to absorb nutrients.^[4] Other species of bromeliads, like Cephalotus follicularis, use these glands to secrete enzymes to break down detritus and trap prey.^[5] However, C. berteroniana lacks enzyme production, so this plant breaks down materials using other methods.^[5] An important feature located on the leaves of Catopsis berteroniana is the presence of a white powder. This powder is released from the leaves of the plant. It is very slippery and reflects ultraviolet light.^[6]

Epiphytes

Catopsis berteroniana is an epiphyte, meaning it grows on another host. However, the plant does not receive nutrients from its host via its roots. Instead, the roots attach to the tree in order to provide stability. In turn, nutrients are obtained from its leaves. According to Fish, 1976, plants have moved away from root absorption in relation to adaptations and moved toward foliar procurement and nutrient absorption.^[1]

Distribution

Catopsis berteroniana is found in the neotropics, from south Florida to southern Brazil.^[1] It grows above the tree canopies where it is exposed to a high amount of sunlight. According to Fish, 1976, due to the location of Catopsis berteroniana above the tree canopies, this species dodges direct competition with other species because they do not need to receive any nutrients from the soil or tree canopies.^[1] In Everglades National Park in south Florida, these plants were found at the apex of red mangroves and in areas of limited shade.^[6] One of the major reasons this species is restricted to the neotropics is because the phytotelmata are limited to humid environments.^[5] This is because the plant does not have enough energy available to make up for the excessive evaporation that occurs in very dry climates.

Microhabitat

Phytotelmata of Catopsis berteroniana axils serve as homes for many organisms, called inquilines. Many types of larvae develop in this medium.^[7] This is a very interesting feature because the major function of phytotelmata is to catch prey, not to support life forms. According to Adlassnig, Peroutka & Lendl, 2010, this plant hosts 11 inquiline species.^[5] Wyeomyia mitchellii is a species of mosquito that develops in the medium of the axils. It takes about 2 weeks for the larvae to fully develop.^[2] Once they develop, the mosquitos can escape from the plant’s axil without getting trapped by the powder. Mutualism occurs between Catopsis berteroniana and these larvae: the plant provides a habitat for the larvae while the larvae help breakdown nitrogenous nutrients for faster absorption by the plant.^[2] There are also parasitic relationships that affect the bromeliad. Metamasius callizona, the weevil, will feed on the meristem tissue of the Catopsis species, which will inevitably kill the plant.^[5] Other organisms that use phytotelmata as a home are algae. These organisms are essential to the plant itself. There is an entire food web within the axil: through anemophilous nutrition, the plant obtains its nutrients from the wind. Algae use these nutrients to grow and then become a food source for other organisms.^[2] Sunlight is a major factor that determines algal growth within the tanks: an increase in transmitted light results in an increase in algal growth.^[3] It shapes the entire food web because algae make up 30% of the living carbon within the bromeliad tanks located in an area with a high amount of sunlight.^[3]

Carnivory

Trapping prey is the main mechanism for obtaining nutrients for Catopsis berteroniana. This species uses a passive trap, called a tank, to trap and digest the target. Because this species is insectivorous, the typical prey that get trapped are insects. The purpose of these traps is to obtain inorganic nutrients from the degradation of insects, most commonly nitrogen and phosphorus.^[5] This species is an epiphyte, so most of the insects that get caught in the trap are winged insects. They are lured to the axil by a white powder that is located on the leaves. This powder reflects UV light, so the insect assumes there is open space ahead because the sun is the only natural source of this type of light.^[1] The organism falls into the fluid filled axil where it cannot escape due to the slippery powder on the leaves. The fluid’s purpose is to drown the organisms because most can’t survive in the fluid.^[5]

There are both advantages and disadvantages to being a carnivorous plant. According to Ellison & Gotelli, 2008, based on studies conducted on carnivory benefits, plant growth increases with an increase in prey.^[8] The more nutrients the plant obtains, the larger it’s able to grow. Ellison and Farnsworth came to the conclusion that carnivorous plants use more energy than other types; so in relation to evolution, carnivory must be a last resort when nutrients are scarce.^[8] However, two studies have been conducted and the results show that traps do not use as much energy as once thought.^[8] In their natural habitat, when comparing carnivores to non-carnivores, the non-carnivores will outcompete the carnivores. This is because carnivorous plants cannot gain mass as fast as non-carnivores.^[4]

References