How are aquatic ecosystems affected by acidification and does ocean acidification affecting the marine food supply?
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How are aquatic ecosystems affected by acidification?
Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As the ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide, it becomes more acidic.
Ocean acidification has a number of negative effects on aquatic ecosystems, including:
- Harm to calcifying organisms: Calcifying organisms are those that build shells or skeletons out of calcium carbonate, such as corals, oysters, clams, and mussels. Ocean acidification makes it more difficult for these organisms to build and maintain their shells and skeletons.
- Changes in food webs: Calcifying organisms play an important role in many marine food webs. For example, coral reefs provide habitat for a wide variety of fish and other marine life. If ocean acidification causes coral reefs to decline, it could have a cascading effect on other species in the food web.
- Harm to fisheries: Many commercially important fish and shellfish species are calcifiers. Ocean acidification could reduce the abundance of these species, making it more difficult for fisheries to operate sustainably.
- Changes in nutrient cycling: Ocean acidification can also affect nutrient cycling in the ocean. This could have a negative impact on the growth of phytoplankton, which are the base of the marine food web.
Does ocean acidification affect the marine food supply?
Yes, ocean acidification can affect the marine food supply in a number of ways. First, as mentioned above, ocean acidification can harm calcifying organisms, which are important food sources for many other marine animals. Second, ocean acidification can change food webs, making it more difficult for some animals to find food. Third, ocean acidification can reduce the abundance of commercially important fish and shellfish species. Finally, ocean acidification can affect nutrient cycling in the ocean, which could have a negative impact on the growth of phytoplankton, the base of the marine food web.
Overall, ocean acidification is a serious threat to marine ecosystems and the marine food supply. It is important to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of ocean acidification.
Here are some specific examples of how ocean acidification is affecting the marine food supply:
- In the Pacific Northwest, ocean acidification is causing oyster larvae to die before they can settle on the bottom and grow into adults. This has led to a decline in the abundance of oyster reefs, which are important habitat for many fish and other marine animals.
- In the North Atlantic, ocean acidification is causing pteropods, a type of tiny snail, to dissolve. Pteropods are an important food source for many fish, seabirds, and whales.
- In the Arctic, ocean acidification is causing the shells of clams to become thinner and more brittle. This makes them more vulnerable to predators and damage from the environment.
These are just a few examples of how ocean acidification is affecting the marine food supply. As ocean acidification continues to progress, it is likely to have even more severe impacts on marine ecosystems and the food sources that we rely on.
Yes, we can expect the ripple effects to result in major changes in ecosystems. The corals in the previous example build their hard stony skeletons out of calcium carbonate. Corals may not form calcium carbonate under increased acidity, and under severe acidity the coral's skeleton can dissolve. For good reason, ocean acidification is sometimes called “osteoporosis of the sea.” Ocean acidification can create conditions that eat away at the minerals used by oysters, clams, lobsters, shrimp, coral reefs, and other marine life to build their shells and skeletons. Human health is also a concern. Acidification is a broad term that refers to the process by which aquatic ecosystems become more acidic. Acid rain and acid mine drainage are major sources of acidifying compounds, lowering the pH below the range where most living organisms function. Ocean acidification is mainly caused by carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere dissolving into the ocean. This leads to a lowering of the water's pH, making the ocean more acidic. Carbon dioxide is being produced faster than nature can remove it, so increasing amounts are being absorbed by the ocean. Acidification is a process that is characterized by increasing concentrations of hydrogen ions (H+) in soil or water. It can cause metals and their compounds to ionize, producing ions (such as Al3+) in concentrations high enough to be toxic to plants, animals, and microorganisms. As this carbon dioxide dissolves in the ocean, it causes the pH of water to drop, meaning the water becomes more acidic. Ocean acidification is problematic for marine life such as shellfish and corals that produce limestone (or calcium carbonate) shells or skeletons. Because of human-driven increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, there is more CO2 dissolving into the ocean. The ocean's average pH is now around 8.1 , which is basic (or alkaline), but as the ocean continues to absorb more CO2, the pH decreases and the ocean becomes more acidic. Ocean acidification refers to a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. While discussions surrounding ocean acidification have skyrocketed in recent years, few recognize that acidification is also impacting freshwater ecosystems. Much of the side effects observed in saltwater environments are mirrored in freshwater ecosystems. Ocean acidification also makes it difficult for crabs, oysters and urchins to build the shells they need to survive. Some hatcheries have lost 80% of their oyster production. When the small animals die off, there's less food for larger fish and marine mammals. Pteropods, for instance, make up 60% of pink salmon diet. With ocean acidification the supply of carbon is greater, meaning this is no longer a limiting factor for the plants. Changes in pH can, however, have a negative effect on plant growth as some types of plants grow best in a narrow pH range.