Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies

Department

Coastal and Marine Systems Science

College

College of Science

First Advisor

Michelle M. Barthet

Second Advisor

John J. Hutchens

Third Advisor

Megan Cevasco

Abstract

Dionaea muscipula, a plant commonly known as the Venus' flytrap, is found native to the southeast corner of North Carolina and the northeast corner of South Carolina. Several populations of native Venus' flytraps are known to exist in the nutrient-poor peat bog conditions in and around Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve (LOBHP) in Northeastern South Carolina. Anthropogenic pressures in Horry County, specifically surrounding LOBHP, have resulted in a loss of habitat for several native and endangered species. As a result, conservation efforts are focused on relocating native Venus' flytraps into adjacent habitats to ensure survival. This is only a temporary solution and does not account for aspects of soil that may influence Venus' flytrap growth, development, and survival. It is presumed that Venus' flytraps do not require mycorrhizal associations due to evolution of the leaf-trap for increased nutrient acquisition from otherwise nutrient-poor soils. However, related carnivorous plants, such as the sundew, have shown mycorrhizal associations with their root tissues. The presence of mycorrhizae in Venus' flytrap roots would suggest that conservation efforts should account for soil microbiome prior to re-location of plants. I investigated root tissue structures and surrounding soil of native Venus' flytraps for evidence of mycorrhizae associations and identification of mycorrhizal species in the soil microbiome. During this study, microscopy of stained root tissues resulted in identification of arbuscular mycorrhizae formations in 93.75%± of observed Venus' flytraps roots. Further, endophytic fungi were observed after culture on nutritive media. Molecular analysis of fungal cultures support evidence of of host-specific associations with endophytes and mycorrhizae.

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