Final answer:
In a desert ecosystem, the appropriate abiotic factors are Temperature, Wind, and Sunlight (physical factors), alongside Soil Composition and Minerals (chemical factors), which are listed in option a. These factors play a key role in determining the types of organisms that can inhabit the desert.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a desert ecosystem, abiotic factors play a crucial role in shaping the environment and the types of organisms that can survive there. The correct list of abiotic factors including three physical and two chemical factors would be: Physical: Temperature, Wind, Sunlight; Chemical: Soil Composition, Minerals. This is option a. Wind affects the ecosystem by influencing evaporation, transpiration, and the movement of soil and water. Temperature and sunlight are primary factors driving the climate of a desert, which in turn affects organism survival and distribution.
Option b is partially correct but includes Air Pressure, which is less relevant than Temperature for the desert ecosystem in this context. Option c includes Humidity and Rainfall, which are not as defining for a desert ecosystem's climate compared to Temperature or Sunlight. Option d mistakenly includes Vegetation which is a biotic factor, not abiotic, and Organic Matter which is also biotic.
The significant abiotic factors in any ecosystem, including the desert, are interconnected, influencing each other and the biotic components of the biosphere. For instance, the temperature can influence soil composition and the types of minerals that are found in the soil.