D3323: Endemic carrion fly species displaced by invasives in the Galapagos Island with implications for biological control risk assessment

Competition is a driving force in shaping ecological communities, especially in short-lived, ephemeral resources such as carrion. Invasive species can be a disturbing force on ecosystems as they compete with or predate native fauna making them one of the main foci for conservation science. Carrion flies provide a valuable ecological service by aiding the decomposition process and moving nutrients to different locations, and carrion fly extinctions could adversely impact the environment and human health. The Galapagos Islands have a high level of endemicity, and invasive species, including exotic flies, constantly threaten them. For example, the invasive avian vampire fly (AVF) causes high mortality of bird nestlings, and mathematical models suggest possible extinctions of endemic bird species if not controlled. Biological control is considered as the most promising method for the control of the AVF, and risks to the Galapagos Dipteran community should be addressed. The proposed biological control agent, Conura annulifera, has only been found attacking AVF pupae. Here we investigate the Galapagos carrion fly community, competition, and interactions among them and their current parasitoids. We also discuss the possible effects of introducing a new parasitoid, Conura annulifera, into the Galapagos Islands and its effects on the local fly community.