Ocean Acidification Flashcards
Describe the process of ocean acidification.
Carbonic acid that may dissolve the calcium carbonate that makes up the base of a reef, breaking it up and reducing the rate of reef building so that coral polyps have nowhere to live. Biodiversity would then be lost due to disruption of food chains and the delicate balance within the ecosystem. The number of reef building corals is in decline worldwide (reef building stops at pH below 7.7. Ocean pH was 8.2 before Industrial Revolution, now is 8.1.
How can ocean acidification affect organisms?
Higher acidity levels in oceans may affect the ability of marine organisms to build shells and skeletons, so creating thinner/smaller shells.
Increased acidity may also decrease the availability of minerals for marine life, and CO2 concentrations in fish/squid/mussels may increase.
