%0 Journal Article
%A Hung-Yi Huang
%A Wen-Yuan Kao
%T Beneficial effect of prey-derived N for <i>Drosera indica</i>, a rare carnivorous plant in Taiwan, growing in field and in culture
%D 2026
%J Taiwania
%V 71
%N 1
%P 23-31
%U https://taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2140
%X <i>Drosera indica</i>, a carnivorous plant, is currently listed as a nationally endangered species in Taiwan. Understanding the biology of <i>D. indica</i> can aid in the effective conservation and protection of this species. The percentage of leaf nitrogen derived from prey in field-grown plants and the significance of carnivory in cultivated <i>D. indica</i> were investigated in this study. Carbon ([C]) and nitrogen ([N]) contents and stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen isotope (δ15N) values of field-grown <i>D. indica</i>, its non-carnivorous neighboring plants and potential prey were analyzed. The one-isotope, two-source, end-member mixing model, using δ15N values of potential prey and plant leaves, revealed that <i>D. indica</i> obtained approximately 57% of its leaf [N] from captured prey, indicating that prey is an important source of the supplementary N for the plant growing in its natural habitat. The prey derived N might confer <i>D. indica</i> a significantly higher N content than its non-carnivorous neighboring plants. Cultivated <i>D. indica</i> plants with access to prey had significantly enriched δ15N values compared to those with prey exclusion, indicating utilization of N from prey. Significant increases in flower number, capsules and seed production, but not in photosynthetic activity and growth, were found in cultivated <i>D. indica</i> in response to prey availability. In conclusion, carnivory contributes a significant amount of nitrogen to the foliage of the plant in its natural habitat but is not indispensable for cultivated <i>D. indica</i>.
%M doi:10.6165/tai.2026.71.23