Members of the media may directly contact:
Allyson MacLean (English and French)
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science
Professor Maclean is an expert in plant physiology and environmental signals. She can discuss the impact of a solar eclipse on plant circadian rhythms and draw parallels between plant growth and animal adaptations.
“While there are many anecdotal reports of how animal behaviour is affected by a solar eclipse, the impact of an eclipse on plants may be harder to see but may well be more profound. Although rare, studies indicate that solar eclipses can cause dramatic though short-term impacts on photosynthesis and are likely to be stressful event for our plants.”