Final answer:
The study of how abiotic factors like rain and temperature affect the distribution of organisms is known as biogeography. This field of study considers variations in these factors primarily due to changes in latitude and elevation, which directly influence the types of flora and fauna that can exist in those environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study of the effect of abiotic factors, such as rain and temperature, on the distribution of living organisms is known as biogeography. Biogeography examines abiotic factors like temperature and rainfall and their role in primarily influencing the geographic locales of organisms, often based on latitude and elevation. It's fascinating to see how these factors affect where plants and animals can thrive, causing changes in ecosystems as the environment alters.
For instance, starting a journey at the equator, one would observe a transition from tropical wet forests to seasonally dry forests and eventually to deserts as they move towards the 30 degrees north latitude. This gradual change illustrates how species distribution is tightly linked to the abiotic conditions of an area. In addition to temperature and precipitation, other aspects like energy sources, water, inorganic nutrients, and soil quality also determine the biomes and the organisms that can survive within them.