Insects as an important nitrogen source for the purple pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea.

Abstract

Natural selection acts on organisms in various ways, causing them to adapt to their environments and exploit the resources available to them accordingly, specifically in inhospitable environments such as wetlands. In this study we used carnivorous Sarracenia purpurea, or the purple pitcher plant and a wetland inhabitant, to investigate the nitrogen nutrient sources of insect prey and root uptake available to the plant. Plant, leaf litter, and insect samples were gathered to determine the isotopic signature of each group. Analysis of data showed 65 +- 3% SE of nitrogen in the plant derived from insect prey and 35 +-3% SE derived from root uptake. Our results suggest that the carnivorous leaf adaptation in Sarracenia purpurea has adapted to exploit an alternative source of nitrogen in the form of insect prey.