Ocean Acidification

Question 1

How much of the world’s carbon has the ocean sequestered since 1800?

Answer 1

30%

Question 2

As CO2 increased, (1) decreases

A lower pH means greater (2)

Corals become cannot absorb (3) needed to maintain skeletons

Reefs begin to (4)

Process known as (5)

Answer 2

1 - pH
2 - acidity
3 - alkaline calcium carbonate
4 - dissolve
5 - ocean acidification

Question 3

Coral bleaching:

Coral can only live at a temp range of (1)

(2) provides food for coral and gives it colour by living in its (3)

If water is too (4) algae is ejected so corals turn white

Answer 3

1 - 23-29 degrees C
2 - food
3 - tissues
4 - warm

Question 4

Give five disadvantages of coral break up

Answer 4

• acidification risks crossing the critical threshold for ocean health
• without coral reefs vital ecosystem services are lost
• less income from tourism
• reduces coastal protection
• less support to fish shelter and food chain (25% of marine species take shelter in coral)

Question 5

What are the four ecosystem services?

Answer 5

Cultural (e.g. recreation and wellbeing)

Regulation of ecosystem processes such as CO2 and erosion

Support to health of the ecosystem

Provision - products obtained from the ecosystem