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Multiple Choice
Which two events primarily trigger the breakdown of pigments, causing leaves to change color each fall?
A
Increased rainfall and higher humidity
B
Greater wind speed and soil nutrient depletion
C
Shorter day length and cooler temperatures
D
Higher carbon dioxide levels and increased sunlight
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context: The question is asking about the environmental factors that lead to the breakdown of pigments in leaves during the fall season, resulting in color changes.
Recall the biological process: Leaves contain pigments like chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. Chlorophyll, which gives leaves their green color, breaks down due to environmental changes, revealing other pigments.
Identify the triggers: Shorter day length reduces the amount of sunlight available for photosynthesis, signaling trees to prepare for winter by conserving energy and nutrients. Cooler temperatures slow down metabolic processes, further contributing to pigment breakdown.
Eliminate incorrect options: Increased rainfall and higher humidity, greater wind speed and soil nutrient depletion, and higher carbon dioxide levels and increased sunlight do not directly cause pigment breakdown in leaves during fall.
Conclude: The correct environmental triggers for pigment breakdown in leaves during fall are shorter day length and cooler temperatures, as these factors signal the seasonal transition and physiological changes in trees.