Successful invasion of a floral market - An exotic Asian plant has moved in on Europe's river-banks by bribing pollinators.

Abstract

Invasive plants can displace native species through competition for nutrients, water, light and space. Here we show that they may also exert indirect pressure by competing for pollinators. We use the Asian plant Impatiens glandulifera as an example — this aggressive invader tempts bee pollinators away from native flowers with its rich nectar, which is more rewarding than that of any known native plant in central Europe. This causes a reduction of seed set in local plants in the vicinity and enables I. glandulifera to take over, reducing the fitness of native flora before competition for other resources even takes effect.