Human-mediated dispersal of the seeds of Australian weeds.

Human-mediated seed dispersal facilitates biological invasions, including the spread of noxious and/or naturalised alien plants in Australia--but which species are dispersed by such mechanisms and what traits do they share? Data were extracted from two reviews of seed dispersed from clothing/personal equipment (e.g. backpacks) and vehicles to assess the range and types of Australian weeds benefiting from these dispersal mechanisms. Across 33 studies, including 11 from Australia, 466 species of weeds in Australia were recorded, 375 from vehicles and 212 from clothing. Many noxious species (17%) and ten Weeds of National Significance were included. Species were predominantly forbs or graminoids with few shrubs or trees. Seeds from annuals were more frequent than expected on vehicles but perennials were more frequent on clothing. New studies will add species to this corpus, but the results already highlight the importance of strategies to minimise risks from such dispersal mechanisms to help reduce the homogenisation of floras, including those in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]