Fall colors often stir melancholy reflections on the end of summer, the passing of seasons and the fading of summer’s green canopy. Some of fall’s more vibrant colors, however, have much more to do with the beginning of life, rather than the end.
By:Michele S. Byers
Fall colors often stir melancholy reflections on the end of summer, the passing of seasons and the fading of summer’s green canopy. Some of fall’s more vibrant colors, however, have much more to do with the beginning of life, rather than the end.
Just a few short weeks ago, you may have noticed that some leaves already turned a bright, vibrant red well before most others had begun their annual color change. I asked NJCF’s manager of science and stewardship, Emile DeVito, Ph.D., why.
"Millions of years ago, plant life didn’t put on this type of show. Back then it was ‘easy being green’ because every plant was green," explained Emile. "There were no colorful flowers or leaves. However, the wonderful display of fall colors is not the result of greater media-consciousness on the part of nature. Like everything else in nature, there is a purpose and an important one."
According to Emile, the first flowers were big, showy, smelly and white, to attract beetles and other insects that unwittingly assisted with the pollination process. The reproduction of these plants was more successful than those that relied on the wind to fertilize their eggs and spread the resulting seeds.
When the first dinosaurs came along and ate every plant in sight, the advantage of flowering plants became even more important. They spread and dominated the landscape.
In addition, many plants developed fruits as a way to protect their seeds. Rather than dropping unprotected seeds on the ground or in the water, these plants gave their offspring a head start. So even though apples are tasty treats to us, we tend to throw out the part most important to the apple tree – the core, seeds and all.
So I asked Emile, "How does all this relate to leaf color changes?"
"The early red leaves we see each year relate to reproductive success strategies," he explained. "Here in the Northeast, around a dozen plants turn a vivid red shade early in the season, advertising their fruits to migratory birds flying overhead. The color makes them stand out sharply against the mostly green canopy of surrounding forest.
"Virginia creeper, black gum, poison ivy, staghorn sumac, dogwood and grapes are just some of the plants that use a showy display of color to signal to migratory birds. Birds are attracted to the red leaves because they know these trees and bushes will have tasty, nutritious berries! After eating the fruits, the seeds are passed through the birds and dispersed widely, ensuring the reproductive success of the plant!"
If rule No. 1 is that everything in nature has a purpose, rule No. 2 is that there are exceptions to every rule. Not every plant species changes color, and among those that do, the reasons for the change vary.
Even though finding free time can be harder in the fall with school activities gearing up again, the holidays and the pressures of deadlines at work and home, pause for a moment and enjoy the spectrum of color on display. Take heart that Mother Nature isn’t saying "farewell," but rather "’Till we meet again!"
For more information on fall foliage, or land preservation in New Jersey, please contact me at 1-888-LAND-SAVE, or by e-mail to [email protected].
Michele S. Byers is executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.