I NTRODUCTIONS O F

ABSTRACTAim Reproductive traits are important mediators of establishment and spread ofintroduced species, both directly and through interactions with other life-historytraits and extrinsic factors. We identify features of the reproductive biology ofAustralian acacias associated with invasiveness.Location Global.Methods We reviewed the pollination biology, seed biology and alternativemodes of reproduction of Australian acacias using primary literature, onlinesearches and unpublished data. We used comparative analyses incorporating anAcacia phylogeny to test for associations between invasiveness and eightreproductive traits in a group of introduced and invasive (23) and non-invasive(129) species. We also explore the distribution of groups of trait ‘syndromes’between invasive and non-invasive species.Results Reproductive trait data were only available for 126 of 152 introducedspecies in our data set, representing 23/23 invasive and 103/129 non-invasivespecies. These data suggest that invasives reach reproductive maturity earlier (10/13 within 2 years vs. 7/26 for non-invasives) and are more commonly able toresprout (11/21 vs. 13/54), although only time to reproductive maturity wassignificant when phylogenetic relationships were controlled for. Our qualitativesurvey of the literature suggests that invasive species in general tend to havegeneralist pollination systems, prolific seed production, efficient seed dispersaland the accumulation of large and persistent seed banks that often have fire-,heat- or disturbance-triggered germination cues.Conclusions Invasive species respond quicker to disturbance than non-invasivetaxa. Traits found to be significant in our study require more in-depth analysisinvolving data for a broader array of species given how little is known of thereproductive biology of so many taxa in this species-rich genus. Sets ofreproductive traits characteristic of invasive species and a general ability toreproduce effectively in new locations are widespread in Australian acacias. Unlessthere is substantial evidence to the contrary, care should be taken with allintroductions.KeywordsBiological invasions, breeding system, invasive alien species, pollination,reproductive syndromes, reproductive traits, seed dispersal