Spontaneous Firings of Aquatic Utricularia Traps
Author Information
Author(s): Vincent Olivier Roditchev, Ivan Marmottant, Philippe Marmottant
Primary Institution: CNRS/Université Grenoble 1, UMR 5588, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique, Grenoble, France
Hypothesis
How do spontaneous firings of Utricularia traps occur and what are their temporal patterns?
Conclusion
The study reveals that Utricularia traps exhibit a variety of firing behaviors, including regular and random patterns.
Supporting Evidence
- All observed traps showed spontaneous firings, with a maximum of about 200 firings for a single trap in three weeks.
- Different traps exhibited distinct firing behaviors, ranging from regular to random patterns.
- Some traps displayed a 'bursting' behavior, firing multiple times in quick succession.
Takeaway
Utricularia plants have tiny traps that can snap shut on prey, and they can fire on their own in different patterns, like a clock or randomly.
Methodology
The study involved observing Utricularia traps in de-ionized water and recording their spontaneous firings over three weeks.
Limitations
The study was limited to a small number of traps and may not represent all Utricularia species.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website