Periphyton and phytoplankton associated with the tropical carnivorous plant Utricularia foliosa

The abundance and taxonomic composition of periphyton attached to the bladders and phytoplankton associated with the aquatic carnivorous plant Utricularia foliosa were quantified, to determine whether periphyton associated with U. foliosa would enhances predation success. Bladder size, periphyton abundance and periphyton richness together explained 76% of the variation observed in the number of prey captured by the bladders. The abundance and richness of periphyton followed the same pattern as phytoplankton, i.e., both increased as dissolved inorganic phosphate concentration rose. This nutrient concentration explained 84 and 74% of the variation observed in richness and abundance of periphyton, respectively. This suggests that abundance and richness of the periphyton associated with U. foliosa depend mostly on environmental conditions rather than on facilitation mechanisms displayed by the plant. In conclusion, if periphyton affects U. folisosa negatively due to the competition for light or nutrients, the plant is “fated to get along with the enemy” but apparently without the capacity to manipulate this “enemy” to its own advantage.