Time-separated seed collections with a separation period of 12–18 years were used to study recent changes in germination traits and the role of climate factors in seven tropical dry forest (TDF) woody species in Zambia, southern Africa. In all the species, peak and final germination were lower in recent (2016–2021) seed collections than in historic (1998–2005) seed collections during the first germination season. However, in species with seed dormancy, both peak and final germination after one year burial were higher in recent seed collections than in historic seed collections. Three monthly climate factors had significant effects on final germination in the different species and the timing of most of these factors was during seed development and ripening that suggest that these factors operated through mother plants. In species with seed dormancy, post-first-year germination of buried seeds responded to climate factors in the regeneration niche. Climate factors that significantly affected germination included those that changed over the separation period between historic and recent seed collections. This indicates that short-time climatic changes may have the potential to impact germination in TDF woody species of southern Africa. The germination responses to climate factors were both positive and negative and it is not clear whether these are adaptations or not. Further research is required to assess the adaptive significance of these changes in germination traits in TDF species of southern Africa.

使用分离期为 12-18 年的时间间隔种子收集来研究南部非洲赞比亚 7 种热带干旱森林 （TDF） 木本物种发芽特性的近期变化和气候因素的作用。在所有物种中，近期 （2016-2021） 种子采集的高峰和最终发芽率低于第一个发芽季节的历史 （1998-2005） 种子采集。然而，在种子休眠的物种中，最近种子收集的埋藏一年后的高峰发芽和最终发芽率都高于历史种子收集。三个月的气候因素对不同物种的最终发芽有显着影响，其中大多数因素的时间是在种子发育和成熟期间，这表明这些因素通过母株起作用。在种子休眠的物种中，埋藏种子的第一年后发芽对再生生态位中的气候因素做出了响应。显着影响发芽的气候因素包括在历史和近期种子收集之间的分离期内发生变化的气候因素。这表明短期气候变化可能影响南部非洲 TDF 木本物种的发芽。发芽对气候因素的响应既是积极的也是消极的，目前尚不清楚这些是否是适应。需要进一步的研究来评估这些发芽性状变化在南部非洲 TDF 物种中的适应性意义。