In the region of the Rocky Mountains, imagine that one local variety of Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) predominantly occurs between 5,000-8,500 feet in elevation, where it can best tolerate temperatures and precipitation. If future climate change in this region causes the temperature to increase and rainfall to decrease, then which of the following changes might an ecologist predict about the variety's range?

A) that variety will occur at lower elevations

B) that variety will occur at higher elevations

C) that variety will occur at lower elevations and/or lower latitudes

D) that variety will occur at higher elevations and/or higher latitude

Option D, that variety will occur at higher elevations and/or higher latitudes

Explanation:

At higher altitudes, the temperature is lesser than the temperature at lower elevations. This is because the air is thinner at higher altitudes. The local variety of Ponderosa pine occurring between 5,000-8,500 feet in elevation, prevents themselves from high temperature and lower rainfall. Since, the temperature further increases and rainfall decreases, the local variety of Ponderosa pine will adapt itself to cope with changing environment by moving towards higher elevations where the temperature is less and rainfall is higher comparatively due to nearness to clouds.

Hence, option D is correct