Ocean Acidification Lab

This research project investigates how the pH of ocean water affects the mass of the shells of sea organisms. People who might benefit from this project are Oceanographers and Fisheries. The resources used included an article from the website Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, called “Ocean Acidification” by Jennifer Bennett, an interview with Dr. Andrew Dickson, a professor of marine chemistry at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, and an article from the website PBS News Hour, called “Coral Reefs and Shellfish Battle Acidifying Oceans”, by Saskia de Melker. From this research, one can conclude that rising acidity and decreasing pH have had and will continue to have a huge impact
on sea life and our evolving world in the future.

The first source reviewed was an article from the website Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, called “Ocean Acidification” by Jennifer Bennett. In this article, Bennett discusses the result of ocean acidity on marine life. First, the article discusses that at least ¼ of excess carbon dioxide from fossil fuels in the air dissolves into the ocean. When carbon dioxide dissolves into the ocean, it makes the water more acidic, changing the pH. The higher the acidity, the lower the pH. Overall, this decreasing pH has had a negative impact on most species. The process of the water becoming more acidic binds up carbonate ions and makes them less abundant, ions that corals, oysters, mussels, and many other shelled organisms need to build shells and skeletons. The build up of skeletons and shells is one of the most sensitive processes to acidity. Overall, most shell building creatures are going to struggle to make their shells through the change in acidity. Beyond adult shell building is other issues. For example, oyster larvae may fail to even begin growing their shells. Within their first 48 hours of life, they have a growth spurt and begin building their shell. However, more acidic water eats away at their shells before they can form. From this research, one can conclude that the loss of these organisms due to ocean acidification would have a negative impact on the food chain as they are food for many.

The second source reviewed was an interview with Dr.
Andrew Dickson, a professor of marine chemistry at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. In this interview, Dickson illustrates the true effect of ocean acidification on oysters and oyster larvae, as well as how we can all play a role in preventing ocean acidification. Dickson established that oysters need calcium and carbonate ions to build shells. Their shells start out as mostly oregonate, and build up to calcite. Ocean acidification is causing a decrease in the materials that oysters need to build their shells, and that many other organisms need to build their shells and skeletal systems. Oyster larvae build their shells within the first 48 hours of life. With a higher acidity, they are unable to build their shells. This causes higher death rates of oysters. Overall, ocean acidification has caused, and will only continue to cause in the future, a decrease in the oyster population. Excess carbon dioxide lowers the levels of carbonate and calcium ions, ions that are crucial to the shell-building of oysters. Truly, shelled organisms use up a lot of energy creating shells. Ocean acidification can, first of all, be stopped mostly by limiting our use of fossil fuels, which is very hard when you consider it. Fossil fuels and excess carbon dioxide have only been a problem since the start of the Industrial Revolution, which is constantly growing each day and with time. At first, ocean
acidification was good, because excess gas was removed, keeping the Earth cool. It still is because it prevents global warming, however, it has brought about new issues in the ocean. The most realistic way to stop acidification is getting our energy other ways, conserving energy, and using other forms of energy. From this research, one can conclude that ocean acidification will only continue to get worse in the future.

The third source reviewed was an article from the website PBS News Hour, called “Coral Reefs and Shellfish Battle Acidifying Oceans”, by Saskia de Melker.
In this article, Melker clarifies the aftermath of the dropping pH’s effect on ocean life. The article states that scientists are noticing recent changes on how carbon dioxide is dramatically changing our oceans. Scientists say that ever since the start of the Industrial Revolution, the ocean has absorbed over 550 billion tons of carbon dioxide, and continues to absorb. In recent years, oyster shells have been dying off more and more. The acidity of the seawater is eating away at the oysters’ shells. As acidity increases, shell building organisms have a tougher time extracting calcium carbonate they need for their shells and skeletal systems. Because of this, shells become thinner, there is a slower growth process, and as a result, higher death rates. Although it doesn’t seem as if it would make a big difference, even small drops in pH have a huge effect on the ocean, and the organisms living in it. Acidification is also affecting coral reefs. Shellfish and coral reefs are the building blocks of ocean life. Reefs serve as important habitats for marine life. More than half of the ocean’s fish will live in a coral reef sometime in their life. Shellfish are being affected by the dropping pH as well as other organisms. Shellfish are eaten by many animals, and if they were to die off the food chain would get messed up.
From this research, one can conclude that ocean acidification is affecting habitats and food chains as we know it.