School of Botany and Zoology

Andrea Leigh

(02) 6125 8858
andrea.leigh@anu.edu.au

Topic : The functional significance of leaf shape in the Proteaceae

What I do
I am interested in whether leaves of different shapes and sizes vary in their thermal and/or hydraulic properties. For my PhD I have been investigating whether leaves of different shapes within the Proteaceae differ in the way they hold heat and the speed at which they cool. Additionally, I am looking at whether hydraulic conductance varies with leaf shape.

I am also interested in plant breeding systems and have worked for several years on dioecious plant species and the ways in which male and female plants vary morphologically and physiologically.

Publications
Leigh A, Close J, Ball MC, Siebke K, Nicotra AB (2006) Leaf cooling curves: measuring leaf temperature in sunlight. Functional Plant Biology 33:515-519

Leigh A, Cosgrove MJ, Nicotra AB (2006) Reproductive allocation in a gender dimorphic shrub: anomalous female investment in Gynatrix pulchella ? Journal of Ecology xx:xx-xx

Leigh, A., Close, J., Ball, M. C., Siebke, K. & Nicotra, A. B. 2006 Leaf cooling curves: measuring leaf temperature in sunlight. Functional Plant Biology 33, 515-519.

Zwieniecki, MA, Stone, HA, Leigh, A, Boyce, CK and NM Holbrook, 2005. Hydraulic design of pine needles: one-dimensional optimization for single-vein leaves.  Plant, Cell and Environment, online publication.

Leigh, A and AB Nicotra, 2003. Sexual dimorphism in reproductive allocation and water use efficiency in Maireana pyramidata (Chenopodiaceae), a dioecious, semi-arid zone shrub. Australian Journal of Botany, 51, 509-514.

Conference presentations

• Ecofizz, biennial meeting, Brisbane, 2005
• International Botanical Congress, Vienna, Austria, 2005
• ComBio annual meeting, Perth, 2004
• Ecological Society of America annual meeting, Portland, Oregon, USA, 2004
• Ecological Society of Australia annual meeting, University of New England, Armidale, 2003
• National Institute of Biosciences at ANU, 2003
• Ecological Society of Australia annual meeting, University of Wollongong, 2001

Awards

• Arnold Arboretum Grant, Harvard University, 2005 - $5000
• Prize for best oral presentation at Ecofizz biennial meeting, 2005 - Trophy            
• Australian Federation of University Women, SA, Thenie Baddams Bursary, 2004 - $3000            
• Prize for best oral presentation at the National Institute of Bioscience, ANU, Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Symposium, 2004 - $100
• Australian Postgraduate Award, stipend for PhD research at ANU, 2003 - $18,000 pa            
• Australian Geographic for PhD research, 2003 - $2000            
• Ecological Society of Australia Travel Grant, 2003 - $140            
• Research School of Biological Sciences, ANU, Honours Scholarship, 2000 - $6000            
• Australia and Pacific Science Foundation for further research into shellfish harvesting in Papua New Guinea (unable to accept due to Honours commitment), 2000 - $5000