Which of the following ecological adaptations explains why tropical deciduous forests shed their leaves during the spring and early summer months?

Options:

• A: To shed accumulated toxic minerals absorbed from laterite soils.
• B: Due to a sudden drop in temperature which freezes the sap in xylem vessels.
• C: To prevent water loss through transpiration during the dry season when soil moisture is depleted.
• D: To allow maximum sunlight to reach the forest floor for the germination of undergrowth.

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