Theory 44/Desert & Dryland/Establishment
Seedlings Need Big Events
The claim
Desert plant establishment is gated by the ratio of rain event size to seed mass, so large-seeded species need larger events to germinate.
01Mechanism
Germination requires sufficient water penetration relative to the seed's reserves; the ratio sets which species can recruit in a given event.
02Prediction
Recruitment should track the ratio by species.
03Refutation
Recruitment tracking event number would remove seed mass.