Final answer:
Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter to conserve water and survive cold conditions. Conifers like spruce, fir, and pine are evergreen and keep their needle-shaped leaves all year.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trees that lose their leaves in preparation for winter are known as deciduous trees. Unlike conifers such as spruce, fir, and pine which are evergreen and retain their needle-shaped leaves year-round, deciduous trees drop their leaves to conserve water and survive the cold conditions. For example, the tamarack or Larix laricina is a type of deciduous conifer that loses its leaves in the fall.