Final answer:
Deciduous trees are those that lose their leaves during the winter as a strategy to reduce water loss during dry seasons. They are dominant in deciduous forests, which experience a dormant winter period, contrasting with evergreen trees that retain leaves year-round. So the correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trees that lose their leaves during winter are called deciduous trees. This process is a strategy for reducing water loss during seasons when there is extreme dryness. Unlike evergreen trees, which retain their leaves year-round and can begin photosynthesis earlier in the spring, deciduous trees have a dormant winter period with no photosynthesis. After leaves turn color in the fall, they may all fall off the plant for the winter. In the spring, these trees must invest a lot of energy to grow new leaves, which is why they often store food over the winter to help facilitate this growth when warmer temperatures return.
Deciduous forests are characterized by moderate annual rainfall and temperatures that allow for a dormancy period during colder months. These forests have a different pattern of productivity and biodiversity from tropical wet forests or coniferous forests like the boreal forest, where evergreen trees dominate.