Floral visitation to alien plants is non‐linearly related to their phylogenetic and floral similarity to native plants

Biological invasions are key to understanding ecological processes that determine the formation of novel interactions. Alien species can negatively impact floral visitation native species, but may also facilitate early establishment closely related alien by providing a preadapted pollinator community. We tested whether depended on phylogenetic relatedness and similarity species. In field experiment, we simulated stages an invasion adding potted plants into co-flowering communities. paired each plant with host plant, recorded them for 3,068 hr (totalling 84,814 visits). used 34 20 in 151 combinations. number visits plants, proportion relative both flower visitor compositions trait distances between Floral was highest when they had intermediate either low or high distances. received more similar flower-visitor groups natives Co-flowering distantly seem avoid competition visitors plants. traits compete visitors, dissimilar not share most likely receive as too still them. The non-linear patterns suggest interplay facilitation simultaneously drives plant-pollinator Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.