- Leaves change color and fall off: As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop in autumn, trees and shrubs prepare for winter by slowing down their growth and shedding their leaves. This is because the leaves are the main site of photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy. As the days get shorter, there is less sunlight available for photosynthesis, so the trees and shrubs stop producing chlorophyll, the green pigment that gives leaves their color. This causes the leaves to turn yellow, orange, and red before they eventually fall off.
- Roots grow deeper: In order to survive the winter, trees and shrubs need to store up water and nutrients. To do this, their roots grow deeper into the ground, where the soil is warmer and there is more moisture.
- Stems become thicker: The stems of trees and shrubs also thicken in autumn to help them withstand the cold winter weather.
Animals:
- Migrate: Many animals, such as birds and butterflies, migrate to warmer climates in the autumn. This is because their food sources become scarce or disappear altogether in the winter.
- Hibernate: Other animals, such as bears and squirrels, hibernate during the winter. This means that they enter a deep sleep, during which their body temperature drops and their metabolism slows down significantly.
- Adapt: Some animals, such as deer and rabbits, adapt to the winter weather by changing their diet and behavior. For example, deer may start to eat more bark and twigs, while rabbits may start to dig burrows in the snow to stay warm.