Ocean Acidification Effects
1382 Words
6 Pages
In today’s generation, the Earth is experiencing a climate change that is significantly changing the way humans, animals, and plants live and function. Due to global warming, temperatures on Earth are rising and it’s affecting life on land and in the ocean. During the 18th century of the Industrial Revolution, there was an increase in factories to help with manufacturing. Even though this improved the production of manufactured goods, the factories burned fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas, which released a chemical known as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In today’s society, humans rely on the burning of fossil fuels in their everyday use such as to drive their vehicles, heat their homes, power industries, and provide electricity.
…show more content…
“Coral reefs are colorful underwater forests” that “act as a natural protective barrier.” Many fishes and plants live in coral reefs for food and shelter (Glick, 1999). When carbon dioxide gets absorbed into the ocean, it starts to have chemical reactions with carbonate ion concentration and calcium carbonate minerals which is known as ocean acidification. Calcium carbonate minerals is used to build the “skeletons and shells of many marine organisms.” Ocean acidification affects coral reefs by making their skeleton grow slower. Warm temperatures will increase diseases such as black and white band diseases, white plague, and white pox. It can also cause “coral bleaching” which will cause the coral to die. Sea level can also be a big impact because if coral reefs are too deep, it will be hard to receive sunlight which it necessary to survive. As a result, many fishes and plants will be in danger in which the entire ecosystem will slowly disappear. Organisms with shells such as oysters, clams, sea urchins, etc. are also greatly impacted by ocean acidification because they need calcium carbonate minerals in order for them to build their protective shells. If they are unable to build their shells, they can be eaten by predators. In the marine ecosystem, organisms depend on each other for food. Without this, “the entire food web may be at risk, especially humans that rely on food from the sea (“What is Ocean Acidification,”
“Coral reefs are colorful underwater forests” that “act as a natural protective barrier.” Many fishes and plants live in coral reefs for food and shelter (Glick, 1999). When carbon dioxide gets absorbed into the ocean, it starts to have chemical reactions with carbonate ion concentration and calcium carbonate minerals which is known as ocean acidification. Calcium carbonate minerals is used to build the “skeletons and shells of many marine organisms.” Ocean acidification affects coral reefs by making their skeleton grow slower. Warm temperatures will increase diseases such as black and white band diseases, white plague, and white pox. It can also cause “coral bleaching” which will cause the coral to die. Sea level can also be a big impact because if coral reefs are too deep, it will be hard to receive sunlight which it necessary to survive. As a result, many fishes and plants will be in danger in which the entire ecosystem will slowly disappear. Organisms with shells such as oysters, clams, sea urchins, etc. are also greatly impacted by ocean acidification because they need calcium carbonate minerals in order for them to build their protective shells. If they are unable to build their shells, they can be eaten by predators. In the marine ecosystem, organisms depend on each other for food. Without this, “the entire food web may be at risk, especially humans that rely on food from the sea (“What is Ocean Acidification,”