Archive for the ‘Vegetarian’ Category
A vegetarian carnivorous plant
Posted: December 19, 2014 at 9:54 pm
Carnivorous plants catch and digest tiny animals in order and derive benefits for their nutrition. Interestingly the trend towards vegetarianism seems to overcome carnivorous plants as well. The aquatic carnivorous bladderwort, which can be found in many lakes and ponds worldwide, does not only gain profit from eating little animals but also by consuming algae and pollen grains. This results in survival in aquatic habitats where prey animals are rare, and in increased fitness if the animals and algae are caught in a well-balanced diet. An Austrian research group around Marianne Koller-Peroutka and Wolfram Adlassnig published these results in the journal Annals of Botany.
The bladderworts (Utricularia) are one of the largest genera in carnivorous plants with over 200 species. Aquatic bladderworts catch their prey with highly sophisticated suction traps consisting of little bladders that produce a hydrostatic under pressure. A valve-like trap door opens upon stimulation and the surrounding water including tiny organism flushes in rapidly within three milliseconds. Once inside the trap, the prey dies of suffocation and is degraded by digestive enzymes. Due to the minerals provided by prey organisms, bladderworts are able to live and propagate even in habitats that are extremely poor in nutrients.
Animals are not the only prey
First observations on algae within the traps of bladderworts go back to 1900 but only now their role within the prey spectrum was analysed by a research team of the University of Vienna. Screening of the prey objects in more than 2,000 traps showed that only 10 % were animals whereas 50 % of the prey objects were algae. Especially in nutrient poor habitats like in peat bogs, algae were even more dominant in the prey. More than one third of the prey consisted of pollen grains from trees growing on the shore areas of the home waters. However Utricularia does not seem to select its menu; in fact, it sucks in everything small enough to enter the trap door.
A well balanced diet keeps the plant healthy!
Previously, algae and pollen had been considered as useless bycatch which was accidentally sucked in together with animal prey. However, data on trapped algae and the growth of the plant as well as the formation of hibernation buds leads to a completely new insight: Utricularia plants that had trapped successfully numerous algae and pollen grains were larger and formed more biomass. More animal prey, on the other hand, leads to a higher nitrogen-content of the plant and to increased formation of hibernation buds, which is of vital importance to survive the winter period. Plants with a well balanced diet of algae and pollen, as well as animal prey were in the best shape. Thus it can be concluded that Utricularia gains specific nutrients like nitrogen mainly from animal prey whereas other nutrients like micronutrients and trace elements were derived mainly from algae and pollen.
Traps suck in without triggering
Until recently, it was assumed that suction traps have to be triggered by movements of animal prey but new studies showed that aquatic bladders do require stimulation and "fire" even if they are not stimulated for a longer time. In the natural habitat, more than 50% of all bladders contained only immotile prey like algae, pollen bacteria and fungi but no animal prey that was capable to trigger and open the trap. Thus, prey capture without external stimulation is crucial for these plants.
Aquatic bladderworts are able to gain benefit by catching all kind of prey organisms. Only for this reason, Utricularia is able to survive and even propagate in habitats that are only sparsely populated by animals. Algae and pollen as well as animal prey differ in mineral nutrients as well as other compounds. A well balanced diet therefore provides a wider range of nutrients that can be utilised by this unique carnivorous plant.
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A vegetarian carnivorous plant
Indian cricketers eat out after Gabba food fails to appeal
Posted: at 9:54 pm
A photo obtained by the QT shows fast bowler Ishant Sharma, batsman Virat Kohli and Indian Photo: Supplied
THE Indian cricket team has eaten a vegetarian lunch provided by Indian Mehfil restaurant on the Vulture St footpath after being dissatisfied with the food on offer inside the Gabba.
The QT understands there was some dispute over the official lunch for the Indians on day three of the Second Test.
A source told the QT that there "wasn't enough vegetarian food to go around" and the players insisted on eating the food from Indian Mehfil.
"The team came outside and ate on the footpath outside gate five because the protocols are that you can't bring food in to the ground," a source told the QT.
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"There was a half hour of negotiations by the Indian team management and lots of people were watching it."
Read more on this story at the Queensland Times.
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Indian cricketers eat out after Gabba food fails to appeal
Vegetarian Persuade – Video
Posted: at 12:52 am
In light of avian flu outbreak, humane society suggests going turkey-free this Christmas
Posted: at 12:52 am
(Courtesy vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca)
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) The avian flu outbreak has the Vancouver Humane Society asking you to do things differently this Christmas.
Were asking people to have a humane Christmas this year and think of the animals, says Debra Probert with the society.
The group is calling for a boycott of factory-farmed turkeys and hoping people will go vegetarian this year after the avian flu hit Fraser Valley farms this month.
I think this is a good opportunity to bring to light the suffering that these animals go through in order to end up on our plate.
Probert says turkey is just a small part of the Christmas dinner and there are lots of vegetarian options like Tofurkey out there.
Having been a vegetarian for 25 years, I can attest to the fantastic alternatives that are available now.
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In light of avian flu outbreak, humane society suggests going turkey-free this Christmas
Diet Plan with Vegetarian Food – Video
Posted: December 17, 2014 at 8:53 am
Diet Plan with Vegetarian Food
Diet Plan with Vegetarian Food.
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joly zoomRead the original here:
Diet Plan with Vegetarian Food - Video
Bill Burr & Nia – Email: Fireman, Vegetarian, And Death – Video
Posted: at 8:52 am
Bill Burr Nia - Email: Fireman, Vegetarian, And Death
http://billburr.com/ and http://www.allthingscomedy.com/
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MMPCRead the rest here:
Bill Burr & Nia - Email: Fireman, Vegetarian, And Death - Video
Chef Vs Vegetarian – Video
Posted: at 8:52 am
Chef Vs Vegetarian
In this episode of Chef vs, we start a food fight with vegetarian food blogger Tara Mathews of vegeTARAian blog. She shares her wisdom on how anyone can become and stay vegetarian as well...
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Bridget Davis ~ The Internet ChefHere is the original post:
Chef Vs Vegetarian - Video
Bill and Dave’s Random Ramblings- Crowdfunding Perks Happy Family Vegetarian Restaurant – Video
Posted: December 16, 2014 at 2:49 pm
Bill and Dave #39;s Random Ramblings- Crowdfunding Perks Happy Family Vegetarian Restaurant
Bill and Dave visit Happy Family Vegan Restaurant. Please support my crowdfunding campaign. Thank you. http://www.gofundme.com/hjol40.
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Bill and Dave's Random Ramblings- Crowdfunding Perks Happy Family Vegetarian Restaurant - Video
New McDonalds video: on msNBC, host: “I’m VEGETARIAN” – Video
Posted: December 15, 2014 at 9:49 pm
New McDonalds video: on msNBC, host: "I #39;m VEGETARIAN"
McD shows how Chicken McNuggets are made(to dispell concerns, lol). Al Sharpton talks with 3 guests about it. Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gary8...
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Gary High-FruitSee more here:
New McDonalds video: on msNBC, host: "I'm VEGETARIAN" - Video
fuli eat vegetarian – Video
Posted: at 9:48 pm