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Does leaf inclination angle change in elevated CO2 levels?

Project team: Jan Pisek (University of Tartu, Estonia)

Project period: 2019 – ongoing

You can find contacts to the Western Sydney University members of the project here

Summary

The objectives of the project are (1) the previously used assumptions about spherical leaf angle distribution and random spatial distribution of leaves valid, and (2) can we expect changes in leaf inclination angle distribution and foliage clumping in Eucalyptus-dominated mature woodland exposed to expected elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations in the future?

We are doing leaf inclination angle measurements at EucFACE rings. The samples/observations were made February 14, 2019 and August 18, 2025. 

Our key findings so far: either increasing CO2 or adding P results in increasing leaf inclination (leaves more bent) in EucFACE.

Publications

Partly published: Pisek, J., Řezníčková, L., Adamson, K. and Ellsworth, D.S., 2021. Leaf inclination angle and foliage clumping in an evergreen broadleaf Eucalyptus forest under elevated atmospheric CO2. Australian Journal of Botany, 69(8), pp.622-629
Measurements from 2025 are completed; explanation part is in limbo right now – I can’t explain what I am observing solely from my own data.

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