Which of the following does not affect the development of soil?

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Prepare for the UCF GEO1200 Physical Geography Exam. Enhance your study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Ace your test with confidence!

The development of soil is influenced by various factors, including climate, organisms, parent material, time, and topography. Among the choices, landslides are not a direct factor in soil development.

Landslides result from the movement of earth material down a slope, which can disturb existing soil but do not contribute to the ongoing processes of soil formation. Instead, they often result in the removal of soil or the mixing of different soil horizons, leading to a disruption rather than a development of new soil profiles.

In contrast, temperature fluctuations play a significant role in soil development as they affect organic matter decomposition and the physical and chemical weathering of parent material. Organic matter decomposition is a crucial process for enriching the soil with nutrients, while topography influences water drainage and erosion, both of which are vital in shaping soil characteristics over time.

Therefore, recognizing that landslides predominantly disrupt rather than promote soil development is essential in understanding the overall processes that contribute to soil formation.