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Current State of the Environment and Implications - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Desert
      - Tundra
      - Temperate Grasslands
      - Savannahs
      - Chaparral
      - Boreal Forests
      - Temperate Deciduous forests
      - Tropical Rain forest
    - - Freshwater
      - Marine (Salt Water)
  - - - Habitat alteration
      - invasive species
      - pollution
      - overharvesting
      - climate change
    - - Finding 3:“Over the past few hundred years, humans have increased species extinction rates by as much as a 1000 times background rates that were typical over Earth’s history” (MEA, 2005a, p. 3).
      - Finding 1:“Virtually all of the Earth’s ecosystems have now been dramatically transformed through human actions….over half of the 14 biomes that the MA assessed have experienced a 20-50% conversion to human use, with temperate and Mediterranean forests and temperate grasslands being the most affected.” (MEA, 2005a, p. 2)
      - Finding 2:“Across a range of taxonomic groups, the population size or range (or both) of the majority of species is declining… studies of amphibians globally, African mammals, birds in agricultural lands, British butterflies, Caribbean and IndoPacific corals, and commonly harvested fish species show declines in populations of the majority of species.” (MEA, 2005a, p. 3)
      - Finding 5:
        “Genetic diversity has declined globally, particularly among domesticated species (especially in plants and animals in agricultural systems)” (MEA, 2005a, p. 4).
      - Finding 4:“The distribution of species on Earth is becoming more homogenous. By homogenous, we mean that the differences between the set of species at one location and the set of species at another location are, on average, diminishing” (MEA, 2005a, p. 4).
- - - - O horizon:Composed of a litter layer with leaves, branches, mosses, and animal waste.
      - B horizon:Minerals and organic matter leached (a process in which materials suspended or dissolved in liquid are transported through the subsurface)
      - A horizon :Contains inorganic mineral components with organic matter and humus; often called topsoil (part of the soil that has most nutrients and is most important for ecosystems and agriculture)
      - C horizon:If present, this layer consists of broken-up rock material and contains rock particles that are larger and less weathered than the layers above.
      - R horizon:Unaltered rock material, parent material or bedrock is found in this layer
- - - - Temperate forests:Mid-latitude regions are home to temperate woods, which have distinct winter and summer seasons. Eastern North America, northern Asia, as well as western and central Europe, all have these forests.
      - Tropical Forest:Tropical rainforests generally occur in the wet, tropical climates of equatorial South and Central America, equatorial Africa, and Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
      - Boreal Forests: The majority of Canada, Russia, and Scandinavia are high latitude regions that are home to boreal forests, which are typified by cold, dry weather and short growing seasons.
  - - - Canada has the highest amount of forested land per capita in the world. More than 50% of Canada’s primary forest (long-standing natural forest) remains more or less intact. Most of Canada’s forested land is in British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario.
- - - - There are about 767,000 km2 in the Great Lakes Basin, which is a sizable watershed. Within the watershed, there are roughly 42 million residents in both Canada and the United States. This represents 15% of the population in the United States and almost one-third of the population of Canada. 18% of the fresh water in the world is in the Great Lakes.