Why Does Fall Foliage Turn So Red and Fiery?

Question 1

Why do leaves turn yellow

Answer 1

When leaves start to die in the fall, chlorophyll breaks down and reveals the yellow or orange helper chemicals known as carotenes or carotenoids that were there all along.

Question 2

Why do leaves turn red?

Answer 2

• As some leaves die, they produce anthocyanins built up from sugars these chemicals produce red pigments

Question 3

Theories on why

Answer 3

• To attract birds and mammals to a tree’s fruits.
• Warning others about bad-tasting defensive poisons or chemicals that tend
  to be in red leaves.
  -signal that a leaf is on its way
  out, and there’s not much healthy stuff left to eat before it drops
• Sign of good health

Question 4

Most likely theory

Answer 4

• protecting leaves from sun damage
• sending nutrients back into the tree to store for later use.