Invasive birds spread native seeds

Ecological Networks When humans introduce exotic species to sensitive ecosystems, invasion and extinction of native species often follow. The resulting ecological communities can develop unusual interactions between the survivors and newcomers. Vizentin-Bugoni et al. analyzed the structure of seed dispersal networks in Hawai'i, where native bird species have been mostly replaced by invaders. They found that the native plants now depend on the invasive birds for seed dispersal. The network of dispersal interactions is complex and stable, which are features of native seed-dispersal networks in other parts of the world. It appears that introduced species may, in some circumstances, become integrated into native ecosystems. Science , this issue p. [78][1] [1]: /lookup/volpage/364/78?iss=6435