Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles
Hi TranMinh,
There are quite a few mosquito species whose larvae live in pitchers. Most of these are specialists that do not live anywhere else. These species are also thought to be harmless. We do not know exactly how they can survive in pitchers, but the only thing that is likely to have an effect on them is the acidity of the fluid. However, many animals can resist acids and enzymes while they are alive - it is only when they die and their bodies start to break up that they get digested. As far as we know, there are no strong patterns between fluid acidity and numbers or diversity of mosquitoes in pitchers, so it seems that most of these animals are well-adapted to life in pitchers.
Cheers,
Charles
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Hi Charles,
newly open pitchers have extremely high enzyme vicosity . At this stage most small animals and insects will be suffocated, drown and die(?) . The vicosity diminishes as the pitchers aged and being diluted by rain water. Maybe(?) when the enzymes were completely diluted and displaced by water and only at this stage can mosquitoes have the freedom to lay eggs.
can you elaborate the vicosity of enzymes at different stages, in your past studies if any.
regards,
Robert