Final answer:
Global climate change causes major shifts in biomes due to a combination of factors including changes in temperature, alterations in precipitation patterns, and sea-level rise, all leading to various short-term and long-term environmental impacts. D is the correct option.
Step-by-step explanation:
Global climate change may produce major shifts in biomes because of d. All of the above: changes in temperature, alterations in precipitation patterns, sea-level rise, and other factors. These changes have a profound impact on biomes across the world. For instance, an increase in the global average air and ocean temperatures can alter ecosystems, challenge the habitats of organisms and potentially change the balance of nature within many biomes. Furthermore, intensity of precipitation events is likely to increase on average, affecting the hydrological aspects of ecosystems such as deserts and tundra that rely on specific water availability
Other short-term changes that can occur include the melting of glaciers, which contributes to sea-level rise, potentially submerging low-lying islands and altering coastal ecosystems. Long-term changes might affect seasonal patterns and the life cycles of numerous species, with alterations in flowering times and pollination events for plants, upending the intricate timing within food webs and ecosystems. Additionally, rising sea levels and temperature can shift marine populations as well as the structure of aquatic systems like coral reefs and estuaries
It is crucial to note that all of these phenomena are interconnected, and even small alterations can have cascading effects throughout the global environment, affecting not only biomes but also agricultural production, economies, and societies. The term global climate change is used to describe the altered weather patterns predominately linked to increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide from human activities