Which of the following identifies one of the ways in which Native Americans of the Mississippian culture used their environment to influence their way of life?

This statement pertains to the Ancestral Puebloans, who are known for their cliff dwellings in the southwestern United States. The Mississippian culture, however, was primarily situated in the southeastern region and did not utilize cliffside construction in the same manner. Thus, this choice does not accurately represent Mississippian practices.

While some Native American groups did follow buffalo herds in the Great Plains, the Mississippian culture was primarily sedentary, focusing on agriculture and permanent settlements. Their lifestyle revolved around farming and mound construction rather than migratory patterns associated with buffalo hunting.

The use of totem poles is characteristic of Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest, not the Mississippian culture. Although they did use local materials for construction, their notable contributions included the earthen mounds rather than longhouses or totem poles, making this option inaccurate for identifying their environmental adaptations.