Prof. Madhur Anand was interviewed by CBC’s Quirks and Quarks on Feb. 2 and talked about why some non-evergreen trees keep their leaves in winter.
Anand, a professor in the School of Environmental Sciences, said it’s normal for some species to hold onto their dry leaves in winter, but it could also be a result of other factors such a warmer than normal fall followed by extreme cold. It could also be an adaptive trait for trees to slow down decomposition of the leaves to provide nutrients when the trees need it most, or to use the leaves to trap snow for hydration in areas where water is limited.
Anand studies forest ecology, climate change biology and biodiversity.