effect of habitat structure on reproduction and prey capture of...

Effect of Habitat Structure on Reproduction and Prey Capture of Pinguicula lutea

a Rare Carnivorous Plant

Samantha B. Primer, University of Illinois (UIUC) Brenda Molano-Flores, Illinois Natural History Survey

Jenna Annis, Eastern Illinois University Janice Coons, Eastern Illinois University

Mary Ann Feist, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Habitat Modification

TIME

Habitat Modification

Plant-Insect Interactions

“This plant, commonly called Venus’ fly-trap…is one of the most wonderful in the world.”

Carnivorous Plants

…But So Much More

Pinguicula lutea

Family: Lentibulariaceae

Common Name: Yellow Butterwort

Status: Threatened in FL

Habitat Structure

• Cover class determined (% cover) using Daubenmire method

• At each site, 5 1m2 quadrats were established along alternating sides of 30m transect.

• At each site, 10 buds were randomly marked, monitored for fruit development.

Maintained Grassy Woody

Ellison graph instead

Pinguicula spp. Characteristics

nectar spur

anthers receptacle

stigma

Ellison graph instead

Pinguicula spp. Characteristics

leaf margin

stalked gland sessile gland

Overarching Question

Does habitat structure affect plant-insect interactions of Pinguicula lutea?


Does habitat structure affect plant-insect interactions of Pinguicula lutea?

Background Information:

1. Determine reproductive ecology

2. Survey arthropod abundance and prey capture

Reproductive Ecology

Breeding System Pollinator Observations

Pollen : Ovule High Low

Previous Research

Floral Morphology Suggest Insect vector Breeding System Self-compatible, pollen vector required Pollinator Observations Insect vector on video Pollen to Ovule Ratio Consistent with facultative selfing

Reproductive Ecology Summary

Treat. 1876. The Harper’s Monthly. Gibson.1991. American Midland Naturalist.

Prey Community Previous Research

Prey Community Summary

Prey Capture Main prey are Collembola and Diptera Collembola is most common Arthropod Availability Collembola and Diptera most abundant Some available Diptera too large trap


Does habitat structure affect reproduction and prey capture of Pinguicula lutea?

Background Information:

1. Determine reproductive ecology

2. Survey arthropod abundance and prey capture 1. Determine reproduction and prey capture in

three habitat structures

Cover class determined (% cover) At each site, 5 1m2 quadrats were established along alternating sides of 30m transect.

• Reproduction

– Fruit Set – Seed Set

• Prey Capture • Prey Availability

• Total sites = 13

Sites = 13

1m2 quadrats established

Cover class determined (% cover)

Quadrats = 5

Vegetation Surveys

Determining Structure

Determining Structure

Cover class determined (% cover) At each site, 5 1m2 quadrats were established along alternating sides of 30m transect.

• Reproduction

– Fruit Set – Seed Set

• Prey Capture • Prey Availability

• Total sites = 13

Maintained

Grassy

Woody

Reproduction

Fruit Set Seed Set

N = 10

Sites = 13

Fruit Set

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

maintained grassy woody

FinalFruitSet

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f Fr

uit

s Fo

rmed

ANOVA F = 0.57, P = 0.58

0.75

0.8

0.85

0.9

0.95

maintained grassy woody

SeedSet

Seed Set P

rop

ort

ion

of

Seed

s Se

t

F = 1.54, p = 0.22

ANOVA:

Habitat Structure on Reproduction

High fruit set

High seed set

Habitat structure does not affect reproductive success

Prey Community Assessment

Prey Capture Arthropod Availability

N = 5

Sites = 13

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Total Collembola Diptera

Maintained

Grassy

Woody

Arthropod Availability M

ean

# A

rth

rop

od

s

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Total ColembolaDiptera

Maintained

Grassy

Woody

F = 4.66, p = 0.01

F = 4.3, p = 0.02

F = 38.7,p

Prey Capture M

ean

# A

rth

rop

od

s

0

1

2

3

4

5


Maintained

Grassy

Woody0

1

2

3

4

5


Maintained

Grassy

Woody

F = 26.0, p

Habitat Structure on Prey Capture

Habitat structure does affect prey capture and availability

Microclimatic Conditions

Light Availability Temperature

Humidity


Habitat structure does affect prey capture and availability

Microclimatic Conditions

Light Availability Temperature

Humidity

Arthropods Trapping Mechanism

Microclimate affecting insects Microclimate affecting trapping mechanism Temperature humidity moisture

Zamora.1995. Oikos.

F


So I’ve established the patterns of these plant insect interactions


In Summary….

• First comprehensive study of plant-insect interactions for SE

Pinguicula spp.

• In a fire dependent community these findings provide insight into how this species response to changes in habitat structure… i.e. What management or lack of management could mean for this species

• Provides evidence that’s presents or absence of management does not seems to have an impact in terms of reproduction; however there are differences in terms of prey capture.

First comprehensive study of plant-insect interactions for SE Pinguicula spp.

In Summary….


• In a fire dependent community these findings provide insight into how this species responds to changes in habitat structure… i.e. What management or lack of management could mean for this species

• Provides evidence that’s presents or absence of management does not seems to have an impact in terms of reproduction; however there are differences in terms of prey capture.

Provides insight into how this species respond to changes in habitat structure

In Summary….


Provides insight into how this species responds to changes in habitat structure

Presence/absence of management may impact prey capture.

Acknowledgements COAUTHORS Brenda Molano-Flores Jenna Annis Janice Coons Mary Ann Feist BMF LAB Danielle Ruffatto David N. Zaya Ian Pearse Charlie Helm UNDERGRADUATE HELP Marialicia Chavez

FIELD ASSISSTANTS/ HELP Caroline George Jean Mendelkoch Kevin Christman Melissa Primer Bill Booth Robin Kennedy TYNDALL AIRFORCE BASE Wendy Jones ST. JOE COMPANY Jim Moyers MASTER NATURALISTS

FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE Michael Jenkins David Morse US FISH AND WILDLIFE Vivian Negron-Ortiz BUFFER PRESERVE Dylan Shoemaker Barry Townsend Sandra Chafin Allix North Lisa Duglecki Max & Pat Prucell Dave & Joy Peterson

effect of habitat structure on reproduction and prey capture of...

Documents