In the autumn, many birds will collect seeds and then hide them in various caches throughout their habitat. the birds will guard their caches from other birds, and move the caches if they start to dry out. these caches provide a food source for the birds during the winter. what is an abiotic factor that contributed to the evolution of this set of behaviors?

Abiotic factor is defind as a nonliving condition such as climate, rain, wind, temperature, altitude, soil or habitat, which influences and affects an ecosystem and the organisms in it.

The abiotic factor that contributed to the evolution of this set of behaviors as mentioned in the question is cold winter season.

The correct answer is low temperature.

Explanation:

Abiotic factors are the non-living parts of the environment which directly influences the living organisms along with its ecosystem. They are mostly physical factors which can be easily identified like temperature, moisture, sunlight, soil type, water, sunlight and many more.

According to the given condition in which a bird do "caching" that is collecting and storing hundreds of seeds in a different location during bad weather condition which helps in the survival of the bird.  

Since the bad weather condition, in this case, is cold winter season affecting the behavior of the bird therefore, the abiotic factor is low temperature.

as the gila monster consumes the eggs or young of the desert cottontail and gambel's quail, thus its main food supply is only accessible for a restricted time duration every year. however, for this, the gila monsters exhibit three adaptations, which elevate their survival rate in the desert condition.  

first, is that they possess huge bodies, and can consume greater concentrations of food during a small period. secondly, they require to feed infrequently as they can accumulate fat in their tails. ultimately, their rate of metabolism is very low, so that they can burn their reservoirs of fat gradually.