What environmental factor can directly influence the process of evolution?

The presence of both temperature and genetic mutations as environmental factors highlights the interplay between environmental conditions and biological evolution. Temperature can serve as a critical environmental variable that affects organisms' survival, reproduction, and adaptation. For instance, changes in temperature can influence habitat availability, food supply, and metabolic rates, ultimately shaping selective pressures that drive evolutionary processes.

Genetic mutations, while intrinsic to an organism's genetic makeup, are pivotal in providing the variation upon which natural selection acts. Mutations can occur due to various environmental factors and can lead to new traits that may give organisms a competitive advantage in changing environments.

The combination of temperature and genetic mutations illustrates a comprehensive view of evolution, where external conditions and genetic variability work together to drive the adaptation of species over time. This synergy is essential in understanding how organisms evolve in response to their environments.