Organic matter and nutrients causes an increase in aerobic algae and depletes oxygen from the water column. This causes the suffocation of fish and other aquatic organisms. Sulfate particles from acid rain can cause harm the health of marine life in the rivers and lakes it contaminates, and can result in mortality.
The author is saying that because of humans and the ways they are impacting earth is causing irreparable changes like causing animals to go extinct, etc.
Well although the two are very close in comparison, an autobiography is a book that the author writes about their whole lives and themselves while a memoir is only part of the author's life that he writes about. Hope that helps!
