Ocean Acidification

The acidification of the world's oceans is completely derived from carbon dioxide.  Increased carbon in the atmosphere would lead to a lower pH in the ocean.  At first, it might seem that acidification is quite innocuous.  It is true that the pH does not change by a significant number as to denature proteins and kill organisms directly.  However, the slight changes in pH do affect many crustaceans, copepods, plankton, corals, and mollusks.  Many of these organisms have exoskeletons made of calcium carbonate, but these exoskeletons are very reactive to acid.  If these organisms lose their shells, then they become vulnerable not only to predators, but also parasites and the natural environment.  Most copepods and plankton are at the bottom of the food web.  They provide food for larger organisms, which in turn feed even larger organisms.

The acidification of the ocean causes decreases in these fundamental organisms, which in turn destroys the animals that depend on them.  Crustaceans and mollusks too sit near the bottom of the food web.  If the bottom of the food web declines, it is only natural that everything above would also decline as they rely on these organisms for survival.  Acidification also affects habitat.  Corals provide refuge for many fish and with decreasing pH in the ocean, many of these corals cannot survive.  Because of the acidification of the ocean, not only do food sources dwindle, but also habitable regions.