They are shaped by climate and vegetation: ecological forces of the now shape evolution of the future. It"s p(cid:396)a(cid:272)ti(cid:272)all(cid:455) i(cid:373)possi(cid:271)le to thi(cid:374)k a(cid:271)out e(cid:448)olutio(cid:374) (cid:449)ithout also thi(cid:374)ki(cid:374)g of ecology. Two parts of the environment: abiotic nonliving, biotic living, both affect evolution, population size, adaptations, mate availability, etc. Climate is controlled by 3 things: variation in light intensity, the ea(cid:396)th"s (cid:272)li(cid:373)ate (cid:448)a(cid:396)ies by latitude, equator is the warmest, a(cid:374)gle of the su(cid:374)"s (cid:396)a(cid:455)s at the equator is very steep, making for a very high light intensity. The more atmosphere it needs to travel through, the less light energy with reach the surface. It cannot sink in the same position because of additional hot rising air. If one side of a slope faces the sun, it will be more dry: less vegetation, vegetation is drought-resistance. 11-16-16: while the steepness and orientation of slopes affect moisture, the elevation affects temperature ix.