Competing theoretical models make different predictions on which life history strategies facilitate growth of small populations. While 'fast' strategies allow for rapid increase in population size and limit vulnerability to stochastic events, 'slow' strategies and bet-hedging may reduce variance in vital rates in response to stochasticity. We test these predictions using biological invasions since founder alien populations start small, compiling the largest dataset yet of global herpetological introductions and life history traits. Using state-of-the-art phylogenetic comparative methods, we show that successful invaders have fast traits, such as large and frequent clutches, at both establishment and spread stages. These results, together with recent findings in mammals and plants, support 'fast advantage' models and the importance of high potential population growth rate. Conversely, successful alien birds are bet-hedgers. We propose that transient population dynamics and differences in longevity and behavioural flexibility can help reconcile apparently contrasting results across terrestrial vertebrate classes.

中文翻译：

---

快速的生活史特征促进两栖动物和爬行动物的入侵成功。

竞争的理论模型对哪些生活史策略促进了小规模人口的增长做出了不同的预测。虽然“快速”策略可以使人口规模迅速增加并限制对随机事件的脆弱性，但“慢速”策略和对冲交易可以减少因随机性而引起的生命率波动。自从创始的外来人口开始时很小，就汇编了全球最大的爬虫学介绍和生活史特征以来最大的数据集，我们使用生物入侵来检验这些预测。使用最新的系统发育比较方法，我们表明，成功的入侵者在建立和传播阶段都具有快速特征，例如大而频繁的离合器。这些结果，加上最近在哺乳动物和植物中的发现，都支持“快速优势” 模型和高潜在人口增长率的重要性。相反，成功的外星鸟是对冲者。我们提出，短暂的种群动态以及寿命和行为灵活性的差异可以帮助调和陆地脊椎动物各类之间明显相反的结果。