Final answer:
Temperatures and growing seasons extend as one travels down the coastline due to moderating effects from the ocean currents. The length of the growing season is dependent on warm temperatures and the availability of water, and climate change is altering these growing seasons and affecting various species.
Step-by-step explanation:
As one travels down the coastline, temperatures and growing seasons both extend or become longer. This is because coastal areas are influenced by ocean currents which moderate the climate. Warmer temperatures are conducive to longer growing seasons, which means plants have more time to grow before the onset of colder temperatures that can inhibit their growth.
In areas where the climate is marked by hot summers and cold winters, the growing season is defined by the period when temperatures are sufficiently warm, and sufficient water is available. However, climate change and latitude significantly affect the duration and productivity of the growing season as well. For instance, climate change may cause growing seasons to extend in some areas while reducing them in others, impacting plant species like the sugar maple and animal species as referenced by the Baltimore oriole's range shift.