Native and alien flower visitors differ in partner fidelity and network integration.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Island Biogeography

Background:

• Globalisation drives the introduction of non-native species, yet alien flower visitors' ecological roles remain understudied.
• Understanding alien species integration into native mutualistic networks is crucial for predicting ecosystem impacts.

Discussion:

• Alien flower visitors exhibit higher connectivity and species strength in Galápagos mutualistic networks compared to native insects.
• Native insects demonstrate greater partner fidelity, deviating more from random partner selection.
• The disparity in network integration between native and alien visitors is exacerbated by increasing island degradation.

Key Insights:

• Alien and native flower visitors are not functionally equivalent within ecological networks.
• Alien species establishment can disrupt established pairwise interactions between native plants and their visitors.
• Island disturbance levels significantly influence the integration patterns of alien and native flower visitors.

Outlook:

• Further research is needed to fully comprehend the long-term consequences of alien visitor establishment on island ecosystems.
• Conservation strategies must consider the differential impacts of alien species on native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
• Monitoring and management of invasive species are essential, particularly in vulnerable island environments.