Environment

CO2 Evolution

Plants have been observed changing the way they conduct photosynthesis over the past 40 years as levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have steadily increased.

Researchers led by Scripps Institution of Oceanography found that land-based plants have adjusted to higher levels of the greenhouse gas by increasing the efficiency with which they use waterith more CO2 in the air, plants have evolved to have fewer or smaller microscopic holes that allow leaves to absorb the gas. The plants then don’t need to draw up as much water from their roots to flourish.