Climate Change Infographic: Coastal Zone Development

  Growth in coastal watershed countries, like the U.S, has significantly increased in the past 40 years. Human activities have heavily changed the coastal environment through development changes in, land use and over use of land resources, which makes life on the coast more challenging. Changes in temperature, water levels, precipitation, ocean acidity, and ocean circulation are primary climatic forces affecting the coast. Over the next few decades, sea surface temperatures are expected to rise faster. In coastal areas where precipitation will increase, there will be more floods or there wont be enough precipitation which causes droughts. Many marine ecosystems are threatened with acidification and climate change. This is because the oceans are absorbing more carbon dioxide, which harms coral reefs and shellfish. For example, in California, sea levels have risen approximately 7 inches and is expected to rise at growing rates in this century. When engineers build coastal bridges, tunnels, roads and buildings, they have to account for land and coastal changes.Waste water management and drainage systems will become overwhelmed in the future if increased rainfall intensifies over more impervious surfaces. 

Biodiversity Hotspots: Brazil Atlantic Forest

Introduction:

                 

              Biodiversity is the variety of life in the world or in a particular ecosystem. It is important because it helps the ecosystems productivity and every species has an important role. My partner and I chose the Brazil Atlantic Forest hot spot. This location is classified as a biodiversity hot spot because it has an extremely diverse mix of vegetation and animals.

Background:

      Brazil's Atlantic Forest is located in the countries of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Geographically its in the northern part of South America. The Atlantic Forest has a Tropical/ Sub tropical biome. Its primary productivity is at a high level. On average its about 8,800(kcal/m^2/yr.

Discussion:

The forest provides economic services such agriculture for crops like sugar cane,coffee, tea, tobacco, soybeans. The ecological services include habitats for animals, carbon dioxide, and provides food for the animals. Human activities like logging cause environmental degradation by causing an increase in debris along forest floors, which makes it more susceptible to fires. Global economic influences factor in because the native need the trees to build their houses. Environmental degradation has impacted the functional diversity and ecosystem processes of the hot spot by increasing the amount of endangered species, for example the sea turtle. It has also decreased the amount of richness present in the forest. The Bald Uakari is an endangered species that originated in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Its endangered because they are hunted and used for meat. Another endangered species in this forest is the Brazilian Sideneck Turtle, which is also hunted and used for their meat. Endangered ecosystems are being restored by a group called CI-Brazil. The program has helped more than 30 plant nurseries. It has removed 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide in transit into living biomass because of forest resolution.

          Conclusion:

Brazil's Atlantic forest is a positive example of a biodiversity hot spot.With the locals working to reduce the Co2 in the atmosphere.As well as reduce how many  endangered species are in the region Working together in this region has proved to be extremly helpful in many ways.This type of strategy is a small step to reduce climate change and it necessary to expand this across Brazil and eventually through out the world.All of us must work to ensure the health of the planet.

Works Cited:

"Atlantic Forest." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Dec. 2015. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.  

Ichoku, Charles. "Rainforest : Mission: Biomes." Rainforest : Mission: Biomes.

Earthobservatory.nasa.gov, 14 Dec. 2015. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.

Guimarães, André, and Beto Mesquita. "The Atlantic Forest of Brazil."

http://www.conservation.org/publications/Documents/CI_Brazil_Atlantic-Forest.pdf. Conservation International, 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.

Glenn, C. R. 2006. "Earth's Endangered Creatures" (Online). Accessed 12/14/2015 at http://earthsendangered.com.

Henry, Leigh, and Kate Newman. "Sea Turtle." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, 13 Jan. 2015.

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"Side-Necked Turtle - Woodland Park Zoo Seattle WA." Side-Necked Turtle - Woodland Park Zoo

Seattle WA. Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2015. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.

"World Biomes - Forest." World Biomes - Forest. Www.worldbiomes.com, 30 Oct. 2009. Web. 15 Dec.

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