10/10/2026
Fall is a picture-perfect time of year to be in the forest as the leaves turn beautiful shades of red, purple, orange, tan, and yellow. But why do leaves change colors in the fall?
Staten Island sits in a deciduous forest biome. During the fall, deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves) will begin to slow their chlorophyll production. Chlorophyll is the pigment that makes leaves green and plays an integral role in photosynthesis. This pigment absorbs sunlight, allowing plants to produce energy and oxygen. In the colder months, trees enter a dormancy stage to conserve water and energy and do not rely on photosynthesis or chlorophyll.
As leaves lose their chlorophyll, the other leaf pigments shine through!
🧡 Carotenoids, which are present in leaves throughout the year, are the orange and yellow pigments you may see on American sweetgum and Tulip poplar trees.
❤️ Anthocyanins, which are produced during the fall, are pigments creating red and purple fall leaves that may appear on maple trees and poison ivy!
🤎 Tannins, which are present all year in leaves, are the browns that are exposed on oak trees. The browning leaves you see on the forest floor also contain tannins.
Come stroll through Clay Pit Ponds within the next few weeks and see how many different fall leaf colors you can find!
