How This Poop Eating Plant Attracts Bats For Survival

Bats spend the day roosting but carnivorous pitcher plants may seem the most unlikely host for the winged-mammal yet bats in Borneo's forests have a penchant for such plants. Researchers studying the relationship have now demystified it.

A new study published in the journal Current Biology claims that pitcher plant species Nepenthes hemsleyana attract the bats to poo in them, by effectively reflecting their ultrasonic calls. The plant's reflection helps it stand out in the dense forest and attract the bat. Bat excreta are rich in nitrogen, helping the plant survive. Incidentally, these plants are known to be poor hunters of insects unlike other pitcher plants and researchers have always wondered how they survive.

"Carnivorous plants in general have already solved the problem of nutrient deficiency in a very unusual way by reversing the 'normal system' of animals feeding on plants. It is even more astonishing that in the case of N. hemsleyana the system is taking a new turn. While N. hemsleyana reduced many insect-attracting traits, it obviously exhibits some traits that are highly attractive for a species that provides the plants with nutrients without being digested by the plant itself." said Michael Schöner of the study's authors.

Studying N. hemsleyana anatomy revealed that the plant has adapted a disc-shaped opening that is more effective at reflecting bat calls than other shapes. Researchers used ultrasonic transmission and reception equipment to confirm that the structure indeed conferred the plant a distinct advantage. Experiments with bats too showed that they were able to easily pick out N. hemsleyana hidden in dense shrubbery.

And what do the bats get in return? Safe haven free of parasites and competition for a good day's sleep.