Leaves hang around longer due to CO2

The delay in autumnal leaf coloration and leaf fall in trees is caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and not by increased global temperatures, suggests a new study by researchers at the University of Southampton.

During the last 30 years across Europe, autumnal senescence has been delayed by 1.3 - 1.8 days a decade

In recent years, woodland autumnal colour changes have been occurring later in the season whilst re-greening in spring has been occurring earlier. During the last 30 years across Europe, autumnal senescence – the process of plant aging where leaves discolour and then fall – has been delayed by 1.3 - 1.8 days a decade. To date, this has been explained by global warming, with increasing temperatures causing longer growing seasons.

However, this new study suggests that CO₂ levels may play a role. Professor Gail Taylor, of the University’s School of Biological Sciences, said:
“The research data provide compelling evidence in terms of both the leaf and canopy that autumnal senescence in such forest ecosystems will be delayed as the atmospheric concentration of CO₂ continues to rise, independent of increased temperatures.”

Over the 30 years that progressive delays in autumnal senescence have been observed, atmospheric CO₂ has risen by 13.5%. Experimental studies show that increased atmospheric CO₂ affects plant physiology and function, influencing a myriad of processes.

The Southampton researchers undertook two large forest ecosystem experiments in which poplar (Populus) trees in separate plots were exposed to either ambient or elevated levels of CO₂ from planting to maturity. The elevated concentration was at 550 parts per million, proposed as representative of concentrations that may occur in 2050. Changes in the tree canopy were measured by remote sensing.

The trees exposed to elevated CO₂ retained their leaves for longer and also experienced a smaller decline in end of season chlorophyll content, resulting in a greener autumn canopy relative to that in ambient CO₂.

Professor Taylor said: “When trees keep their leaves for longer, they continue to photosynthesise but trees also need to set bud and if they don’t do that, it makes them susceptible to frost and other weather events. A key question now is whether we should be selecting trees which are better adapted to coping with increasing levels of CO₂, perhaps considering different varieties and species to plant, rather than using locally sourced seed, as is current practice.”