Organism
Indian Pipe
TL;DR
Non-photosynthetic plant that taps into mycorrhizal networks to steal carbon from other plants without contributing - a mycorrhizal cheater.
Non-photosynthetic plant that taps into mycorrhizal networks to steal carbon from other plants without contributing - a mycorrhizal cheater. Indian pipe exemplifies exploitation in cooperative networks: taking resources without providing the carbon that sustains the symbiosis. Such cheating plants are rare (<1% of species) because the strategy is viable only when rare; if too many plants cheat, fungi and honest plants decline and networks collapse.
Notable Traits of Indian Pipe
- Non-photosynthetic
- Parasitizes mycorrhizal networks for carbon
- Rare (<1% of plant species)
- Cheating strategy viable only when rare