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Mechanics reveals the role of peristome geometry in prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes)

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 conspicuo...

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Autores principales: Moulton, Derek E., Oliveri, Hadrien, Goriely, Alain, Thorogood, Chris J.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: National Academy of Sciences 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10515166/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37676908
http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2306268120
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author Moulton, Derek E.
Oliveri, Hadrien
Goriely, Alain
Thorogood, Chris J.
author_facet Moulton, Derek E.
Oliveri, Hadrien
Goriely, Alain
Thorogood, Chris J.
author_sort Moulton, Derek E.
collection PubMed
description 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.
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spelling pubmed-105151662023-09-23 Mechanics reveals the role of peristome geometry in prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes) Moulton, Derek E. Oliveri, Hadrien Goriely, Alain Thorogood, Chris J. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Physical Sciences 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. National Academy of Sciences 2023-09-07 2023-09-19 /pmc/articles/PMC10515166/ /pubmed/37676908 http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2306268120 Text en Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by PNAS. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This open access article is distributed under Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC BY) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) .
spellingShingle Physical Sciences
Moulton, Derek E.
Oliveri, Hadrien
Goriely, Alain
Thorogood, Chris J.
Mechanics reveals the role of peristome geometry in prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes)
title Mechanics reveals the role of peristome geometry in prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes)
title_full Mechanics reveals the role of peristome geometry in prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes)
title_fullStr Mechanics reveals the role of peristome geometry in prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes)
title_full_unstemmed Mechanics reveals the role of peristome geometry in prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes)
title_short Mechanics reveals the role of peristome geometry in prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes)
title_sort mechanics reveals the role of peristome geometry in prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants (nepenthes)
topic Physical Sciences
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10515166/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37676908
http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2306268120
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