The impact of ocean acidifcation
- Created by: ellicepounder
- Created on: 20-02-18 19:12
1) On Marine ecosystems
àMembers of the lower trophic levels are more susceptible to predation and less likely to reach maturity and breed.
Molluscs & Crustacea need to build shell
Coral needs to build mineral skeleton
But as ocean becomes more acidic – they less able to accumulate calcium carbonate.
àSome organisms will face more difficulty:
- Some shellfish have been shown to have difficulty making their shells in acidic water.
- Mussels face additional risks – they cling to rocks by a thread-like material which is less affective in more acidic water.
- Massive die-offs of oysters have been recorded in parts of the Pacific Northwest of the USA, putting valuable commercial and subsistence fisheries at risk.
- A significant unknown is impact on Jellyfish. 1 suggestion is that they will…
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