Final answer:
Deciduous forests (option C) are characterized by trees that shed their leaves during fall and winter, leading to a period of dormancy. These forests have rich soils due to the decomposing leaf litter, and they host a diverse array of wildlife.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of forest that contains many trees that shed their leaves during fall and winter is known as a deciduous forest. In deciduous forests, trees are the dominant plants and they lose their leaves each fall, remaining leafless in the winter. Photosynthesis does not occur in these trees during the dormant winter period. With the arrival of spring and warmer temperatures, the trees grow new leaves. Deciduous forests have moderate annual rainfall and temperatures, leading to rich soil full of inorganic and organic nutrients thanks to the thick layer of leaf litter that decays and replenishes the soil.