October At Home Quest

CHANGING COLORS 

Why do leaves change color in the fall?

 

Only the leaves of deciduous trees change in the fall.  Deciduous trees have broad, flat leaves. Some examples are oak, maple and birch.  Coniferous trees (like pine, spruce and fir) have green needles with a waxy coating to prevent moisture loss.  Coniferous trees keep their needles and stay green all year.

 

Light, or the lack of light, is the main reason for the change in leaves!

Green – Chlorophyll is what makes leaves green, absorbing sunlight and water to feed trees.

 

Yellow/Orange -As the days get shorter and there is less sunlight, trees stop producing chlorophyll.  This exposes the yellow and orange pigments in the leaves.

 

Red – As the veins connecting leaves to trees begin to close, sugar becomes trapped in some leaves, producing their red color.

 

 

This month, for 5,000 points, explore your favorite wooded area.  Are the trees deciduous or coniferous? What color are the leaves? What do you think is happening in the leaves based on the color?

 

Take a picture or sketch a drawing and send it with your observations to  natureswap@rwpzoo.org