Thesis--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-104). Also available via the Internet.

Investigations were made into the trapping biology of the pitchers of Nepenthes rafflesiana (Jack), Family Nepenthaceae, in Brunei, Borneo. The plant produces two distinct pitcher forms, upper and lower, which were found to differ in their prey spectra. Although ants were the most important prey in both forms, the upper form caught more anthophilous insects than the lower. High contrast U/V patterns on the upper pitchers were found to contribute to the attraction of some anthophilous insects, as was the fragrance of upper pitcher fluid. Increased height above ground was also found to increase the numbers of anthophilous insects caught. Upper pitchers possessed features of several pollination syndromes, but may have been mutualistic rather than mimetic, as certain criteria for mimesis were not met. Evidence for mutualism is strongest for ants, in which both pitcher forms were found to be specialising, although the involvement of lower pitcher 'wings' in such a relationship, was discounted. The loss of wings from the upper pitcher form may have occurred to reduce strain on the upper pitcher-tendril attachment. Reduction of fluid volume, and strengthening of the attachment in upper pitchers, support this idea. The possession of upper pitchers was found to allow N.rafflesiana access to populations of anthophilous insects that were not as easily available to the sympatric Nepenthes gracilis (Korth). There was found to be a shift in the prey spectrum of lower N.rafflesiana pitchers, as pitcher size increased. Production of lower pitchers was found to increase when upper pitchers were rendered non-functional. This may allow the plant to regenerate after stem damage. Although covering of pitchers failed to produce a decrease in either male flowering success, or &'37 age of viable seeds produced by female plants, pre-flowering pitcher counts suggested that pitchers were an important factor in reproductive fitness.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Utricularia is the only genus in Lentibulariaceae of Taiwan. The morphology of Utricularia is highly diverse due to the habitats variation, which results in the difficulty to identify the species of this genus. This study emphasizes the morphology of Utricularia, and combines with the information of field observation and the cultivation, to ensure the influence of environmental change on external morphology, especially the characters of stolons, rhizoids, leaves, flowers, fruits, pollens, seeds, and traps. Further, the taxonomic value of trap glands between species is discussed. There are seven species recognized in Lentibulariaceae of Taiwan; namely, U. aurea Lour., U. australis R. Br., U. bifida L., U. caerulea L., U. gibba L., U. striatula Sm., and U. uliginosa Vahl. In addition, U. minor L. and U. inflata Walter are treated as doubtful species.

Thesis (doctoral)--Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 226-236). Also available via the World Wide Web: http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00001078/01/Meimberg_Harald.pdf

Orientador: Vitor Fernandez Olivera de Miranda / Coorientador: Janete Apparecida Desidério / Banca: Marcos Túlio de Oliveira / Banca: Maurício Bacci Junior / Resumo: A planta carnívora Utricularia gibba (Lentibulariaceae) apresenta um genoma reduzido de aproximadamente 82 Mpb e foi empregada no presente estudo para se investigar a diversidade de cópias da região ITS (nrDNA). Uma das características do nrDNA é que suas cópias em tandem apresentam alto grau de similaridade pela ação homogeneizadora da evolução em concerto. Porém, neste estudo foram encontradas variações intragenômicas, intra e interpopulacionais nas regiões ITS em U. gibba. Com o objetivo de elucidar o impacto dos polimorfismos nos espaçadores ITS1, ITS2 e no gene 5,8S nas análises filogenéticas e filogeográficas, foi clonada a região ITS completa de 25 indivíduos de 5 populações, assim obtidos 292 cópias as quais foram analisadas isoladamente cada região (ITS1, 5,8S e ITS2) e em conjunto. Desta forma foram avaliados o comprimento e o conteúdo das regiões, as variações nucleotídicas e haplotípicas e realizadas análises filogenéticas e filogeográficas. Para determinar a funcionalidade das sequências obtidas foram identificados motifs conservados das regiões ITS1 e 5,8S e para os haplótipos da região ITS2 foi confirmada a sua estrutura secundária por transferibilidade das hélices em estruturas secundárias conhecidas de espécies filogeneticamente relacionadas. Assim, as três regiões apresentaram polimorfismos representados em haplótipos para cada sequência. Os resultados sugerem que todos os diferentes haplótipos presentes em U. gibba são cópias funcionais que podem ser usadas... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The aquatic carnivorous plant, Utricularia gibba (Lentibulariaceae) has a small genome of with approximately 82 Mpb and was used in this work for the variance analysis of the copies diversity of the ribosomal DNA ITS region (nrDNA). One of the nrDNA features is that its its copies in tandem ys have present a high degree of similarity in intra individual and interspecies genomes due the homogenizing action of concerted evolution. However, in this study intragenomic, intra, and inter-populational variations were found in ITS1 + 5.8S + ITS2 ITS regions in individuals and populations evaluated. U. gibba. With the main objectiveaim of to elucidate the impact of polymorphisms of thein the intergenic spacers ITS1, ITS2, and gene 5.8S and ITS2 regions in phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyszes, we was cloned the complete ITS region of 25 individuals from 5 populations, thereby obtained 292 clones copies and internal spacers ITS1 and ITS2 and the 5.8S gene were identified, which were analyzed individually (ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2) and togetherconcatenated. Thus we evaluate the length and GC concentration of the regions, the nucleotide and haplotype variations and achieved phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyzes were madedinferences. To determine test the functionality of the sequences obtained we were searched and compared conserved motifs in spacer ITS1 and 5.8S gene and the haplotypes of spacer ITS2 was evaluated the ITS2 its secondary structure by transferability of helices in known secondary structures known of closely phylogenetically related species. Thus, the three regions showed polymorphisms represented by generating haplotypes for each region. Thise results suggest that the all different haplotypes present in U. gibba are functional copies that can should be used as phylogenetic mark... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Various aspects of the ecophysiology of rootless carnivorous Utricularia plants were assessed, with focus on nutrient acquisition and mutualistic interactions within trapping organs. The study includes extracellular enzyme measurements, the evaluation of commensal microbial community structure and function, stable isotope labelling to determine plant carbon allocation, and ion chromatography analyses of trap fluid composition

The impact of nutrient addition on growth and nutrient accumulation in insectivorous plants was studied in field populations and greenhouse plantings. Drosera rotundifolia was studied in the field, and D. binata var. multifida and D. capensis were studied in long-established plantings in the greenhouse. In each case, experiments were performed by enclosing insects and/or adding phosphorus and/or nitrogen to the soil. None of the species significantly benefitted from insect capture nutritionally or energetically in nutrient-poor or rich soils. Added nutrients to the soil or by foliar insect feeding decreased phosphorus retention in hibernacula by 50% (D. rotundifolia). Nutrient additions reduced D. rotundifolia vegetative growth in both N and P addition treatments. In addition, reproductive output (inflorescences) decreased flowering by 98% when N was added to the soil. Nutrient addition to soil increased nutrient concentration significantly in D. rotundifolia (N and P), and to a greater extent in D. capensis (N and P) and D. binata (P), and increased growth in D. capensis (N and P). In natural settings, insectivory was not found to be a significant source of nutrients for the species of Drosera studied. Larger subtropical species such as D. capensis and D. binata var. multifida is found in relatively richer (nutrient) soil than cool temperate species (D. rotundifolia) and are better able to utilize available nutrients in a substrate by high absorption rates and luxury consumption. / Master of Science