Experiments

THE DROSERA PROJECT

Participants: PhD. student Irwan Lovadi (now Dr Lovadi), Joe Holtum (supervisor), Simon Robson (supervisor), Charles Clarke (supervisor)

Project: We examined predation patterns, N content and biomass allocation of four native Australian carnivorous sundews (Drosera): D. adelae F. Muell., D. schizandra Diels, D. burmanni Vahl. and D. spatulata Labill.
In a technological first, we used nano-machined silicon-tipped micro-force probes to quantify the adhesive force of mucilage on individual prey-trapping tentacles i.e. we measured how ‘sticky’ the tentacles are. The forces were compared to the maximum load-lifting forces of flying prey.
We are currently writing-up papers associated with this research