Climate, more than any other single factor, determines the distribution of life on earth. Climatic boundaries establish the limits within whichorganisms can survive. Plants, even more than animals, must be well adapted to climate in order to survive. They cannot move about or take shelter but must be equipped to endure whatever weather conditions are likely to occur. In the harsh conditions of the tundra, for example, low growing mosses, and a few flowering plants all hug the ground for shelter from icy winds.
Animals, despite their ability to move about and find shelter, are just as much influenced by climate as plants are. Creatures such as the camel and the penguin are so highly specialized that they have an extremely limited distribution. Others, such as bears, are flexible enough to adapt to a broad range of climates. Ocean dwelling organisms are just as sensitive to climatic changes — in this case temperature and salinity — as land animals. Reef corals can survive only in clear warm sea water. Certain foraminifers are so sensitive to changes in their environment that their presence can be taken as an index of sea temperature. Human beings are among the least specialized of all animals and can live almost anywhere. Their clothes and their homes act as a sort of “miniature climate” that can be taken with them everywhere.
气候比其他任何因素更能决定地球上生命的分布。气候的范围确定了有机体生存的界限。植物为了生存，就必须比动物更加能够适应气候。他们无法走来走去或躲避，而只能做好准备去忍受可能出现的任何气候。比如在冻土地带的严酷条件下，低处生长的苔藓以及一些开花植物都贴近地面，以此来躲避寒风。
尽管动物能够到处走动并且寻求庇护，但它们也和植物一样受到气候的很大影响。有些动物如骆驼和企鹅，它们非常特殊，以至于它们的分布地区非常有限。另一些动物，比如熊，它们的适应性很强，能够适应更大的气候范围。海洋生物和陆地动物一样，对气候的变化——温度和盐度——非常敏感。珊瑚礁只能生活在洁净温暖的海水中。某种有孔虫对它们周边环境的变化非常敏感，以至于它们的存在可被当作海水温度指标。人类是所有动物中所受限制最少的，几乎可以生活在任何地方。他们的衣服和家充当着一种“微型气候”，可以随身携带。
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