Explaining Legume Success in Tropical Dry Forests Based on Seed Germination Niches: A New Hypothesis

To test a new hypothesis explaining Fabaceae success in tropical dry forests, we compared seed germination of 34 species including legumes and non-legumes. Legume seeds germinated twice as fast with higher final percentages compared to other taxa, which may afford them a competitive advantage in highly seasonal environments. Resumen Como una nueva hipotesis del exito de Fabaceae en los bosques tropicales secos, comparamos la germinacion en 34 especies incluyendo leguminosas y no-leguminosas. Las leguminosas presentaron una mayor y mas rapida germinacion en comparacion con otros taxa, lo cual les concederia una ventaja competitiva en ambientes con estacionalidad marcada.