Which factors determine the rates of carbon cycling?

The rates of carbon cycling are significantly influenced by temperature and precipitation, making this the correct choice. Temperature plays a vital role in biological and chemical processes that facilitate carbon cycling. For example, higher temperatures can accelerate the rate of decomposition, leading to faster release of carbon dioxide from organic matter. Additionally, temperature affects plant growth rates and photosynthesis, which are essential components of the carbon cycle.

Precipitation is equally important, as it governs water availability, which is crucial for plant growth. More vegetation results in higher carbon uptake through photosynthesis. Moreover, different types of ecosystems react differently to changes in temperature and precipitation, which can alter the overall carbon cycling dynamics. Therefore, both temperature and precipitation are key drivers that affect the rates at which carbon is cycled through the environment.

The other choices, while they may have their own ecological impacts, do not directly influence the core processes of carbon cycling as strongly as temperature and precipitation do. For instance, wind patterns might affect the distribution of seeds or spores, but they do not directly determine carbon cycling rates. Soil composition does have an impact by influencing nutrient availability and microbial activity, but it does not have the overarching influence that temperature and precipitation have when it comes to regulating carbon dynamics.