Affiliation:
1. Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, United Kingdom
2. University of Oxford Botanic Garden, Oxford OX1 4AZ, United Kingdom
Abstract
Carnivorous pitcher plants (
Nepenthes
) are a striking example of a natural pitfall trap. The trap’s slippery rim, or peristome, plays a critical role in insect capture via an aquaplaning mechanism that is well documented. While the peristome has received significant research attention, the conspicuous variation in peristome geometry across the genus remains unexplored. We examined the mechanics of prey capture using
Nepenthes
pitcher plants with divergent peristome geometries. Inspired by living material, we developed a mathematical model that links the peristomes’ three-dimensional geometries to the physics of prey capture under the laws of Newtonian mechanics. Linking form and function enables us to test hypotheses related to the function of features such as shape and ornamentation, orientation in a gravitational field, and the presence of “teeth,” while analysis of the energetic costs and gains of a given geometry provides a means of inferring potential evolutionary pathways. In a separate modeling approach, we show how prey size may correlate with peristome dimensions for optimal capture. Our modeling framework provides a physical platform to understand how divergence in peristome morphology may have evolved in the genus
Nepenthes
in response to shifts in prey diversity, availability, and size.
Funder
UKRI | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Cited by
6 articles.
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