Capture of mammal excreta by Nepenthes is an effective heterotrophic nutrition strategy.

The collection of mammal faeces clearly represents a highly effective strategy for heterotrophic nitrogen gain in Nepenthes. Species with adaptations for capturing mammal excreta occur exclusively at high elevation (i.e., are typically summit-occurring) where previous studies suggest invertebrate prey are less abundant and less frequently captured. As such, we propose this strategy may maximise nutritional return by specialising towards ensuring the collection and retention of few but higher-value N sources in environments where invertebrate prey may be scarce.