The Anthropocene: Intercontinental Impact On Ecological Systems And Processes

The Anthropocene is an era characterized by humans’ intercontinental impact on ecological systems and processes (Steffen et al. 2011). Monitoring ecosystem function and fluctuation is the primary interest of Dr. David Lewis, who examines variables associated with the Anthropocene, including: land modification, nutrient cycling, hydrologic perturbations, and climate change. Many anthropogenic activities result in heightened nutrient inputs into the environment (Foley et al. 2005), including land use. Land use legacies were compared in Phoenix between yards that were formerly farms and natural desert. The general hypothesis was that soil nutrient and C (carbon) pools would be the result of farming. Results showed residential yards that were formerly