Problem 5 - Biology: The Dynamic Science

Question

The major climatic factors that govern the distributions of terrestrial biomes are: a. temperature only. b. rainfall only. c. wind speed only. d. temperature and rainfall. e. temperature, rainfall, and wind speed.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The major climatic factors that govern the distributions of terrestrial biomes are temperature and rainfall (option d).

Step 1: Understand the question

The first step is understanding what exactly the question is asking. Terrestrial biomes are major regions in the Earth that share similar climate, soil, plants, and animals. Climate plays a significant role in determining the location and characteristics of each biome on Earth.

Step 2: Analyze the answer options

The next step is to go through all the presented options and process the information from each. One must consider whether each factor - temperature, rainfall, and wind speed - does indeed affect biome distribution.

Step 3: Make a conclusion

The major climatic factors affecting the distribution of terrestrial biomes include temperature and rainfall. These factors dictate the types of vegetation and animal life that can survive in a particular area. Wind speed does have an impact on climate, but is not a primary factor that governs biome distribution. Therefore, the answer is temperature and rainfall.