Fall weather and temperatures continue to make changes in the many ecosystems throughout Iowa.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Interpretive Naturalist and Educator Anne Riordan tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the most notable change is that tree leaves are changing colors, and explains why it happens.

“That chlorophyll is beginning to stop being produced, and so as it breaks down, some of the other colors that are in leaves that we can’t see begin to show. Like the yellows and oranges, and also when we have kind of sunshiny, warmish days and cool nights, we get some reds and purples that are starting to form. So different pigments in those leaves.”

Riordan mentions eventually the leaves will dry up and fall off, helping the trees conserve energy throughout the winter. She adds that at Springbrook State Park, there are also several plants who are either preparing to spread their seeds, or have already started. Riordan explains that this happens in a variety of ways, from the seeds just falling from the plants, to catching a breeze and floating away, hitching a ride on animals and people, being buried by animals, and for some plants, exploding seed pods. She says that jewelweed plants by the lake have been filling and nurturing their seed pods all summer, and now they are so full, that they just explode, scattering their seeds in the surrounding area.