The Changing Trees of Autumn

1
The Changing Trees of Autumn

• By Meryl Spierenburg
• ED 205 (15)

Concept Map
Quit
About the Author
Quit
Resources
2
Lets Learn About the Leaves!

• Where do the colors come from?
• Why do the leaves change color?
• How does it work?
• Why do leaves FALL?
• What happens after the leaves fall?
• How do we get the best colors?

Quit
3
Where do the colors come from?

• Leaves have pigments that give them their color.
• There are 3 pigments are involved in the autumn
  color.
• Chlorophyll
• Carotenoids
• Anthocyanins
• How do they all work together?

Quit
4
Chlorophyll

• Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives leaves
  their basic green color.
• Chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis, the
  chemical reaction that lets plants use sunlight
  to make food.

Quit
5
Carotenoids

• Carotenoids are the pigments that produce yellow,
  orange, and brown colors in the leaves.
• The are also found in things like corn, carrots,
  and bananas.

Quit
6
How do they all work together?

• Chlorophyll and carotenoid are in leaf cells all
  the time during the growing season. But the
  chlorophyll covers the carotenoid . That's why
  summer leaves are green, not yellow.
• Most anthocyanins are produced only in autumn.
  Not all trees can make anthocyanins.

Quit
7
Anthocyanins

• Anthocyanins are the pigments that give leaves
  their red color.
• The are also found in cranberries, red apples,
  blueberries, cherries, and plums.

Quit
8
Why do the leaves change color?

• Leaves change color mainly because of the longer,
  cooler nights that occur in Autumn.
• As the nights get cooler and longer, a
  biochemical process takes place that causes the
  leaves to change in color.
• Click here to watch a video about why leaves
  change color

Quit
9
How does it work?

• During the spring and summer, chlorophyll is
  continually being made, and leaves are green.
• As the nights get longer in the fall, chlorophyll
  making slows down and then stops and eventually
  all the chlorophyll is gone.
• The carotenoids and anthocyanins that are in the
  leaf are then able to show their colors.

Quit
10
Why do the leaves fall?

• In early autumn, the veins that carry fluids into
  and out of the leaf gradually close off.
• These closed veins trap sugars in the leaf and
  start the making of anthocyanins.
• When this is complete, the leaf is ready to fall

Quit
11
What happens after the leaves fall?

• On the ground, fallen leaves are broken down by
  bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and other organisms.
  
• The broken-down leaves give the soil nutrients
  and become part of the layer on the forest floor
  that absorb and hold rainfall.

Quit
12
When do we get the best color?

• The autumn colors are the most vibrant when there
  has been
• A warm and wet spring
• A summer that isnt too hot or dry
• A fall full of warm days and cool nights.

Quit
13
About the author

• This powerpoint was created by Meryl
  Spierenburg. I am a Junior at Grand Valley State
  University, majoring in English with a minor in
  Elementary Education.
• Please, feel free to e-mail me at
  meryljoy_at_charter.net

Quit
14
Concept Map
Quit
15
Resources

• http//www.jimpetrozzi.com/site_WW/thumb-wallpaper
  /Red20Leaves.jpg
• http//www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/nature-wal
  lpapers-pictures/fall-of-autumn-leaves-wallpaper.j
  pg
• http//www.jimpetrozzi.com/site_WW/thumb-wallpaper
  /Red20Leaves.jpg
• http//riversaredamp.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/y
  ellow-leaves.jpg
• http//www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/images/green
  20leaves20with20rain20drops.jpg
• http//www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/veg/tre
  es/treestruecolor.htm
• http//www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/misc/leaves/leav
  es.htm
• http//www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/leaves/leaves.
  htm
• http//farm1.static.flickr.com/113/315997493_35bc9
  5c19c_o.jpg

Quit