In addition to the famous impacts of atmospheric carbon on global warming, there is an equally worrisome effect of carbon dioxide on the oceans: ocean acidification (or OA for short). Here at I2SEA we have a series of resources about OA, including Our Acidifying Ocean, which is an introductory activity and virtual lab (note: now mobile compatible!).
A student suggested that we start a conversation topic about OA, and here it is! Have you heard about Ocean Acidification? If so, are you worried about it? How do you think we can best raise awareness about it among your fellow students and the general public? Have you seen particularly good links or films about OA that you would like to share? What are you doing to address the problem?
Ocean Acidification >
ocean acidification and keystone species
ocean acidification is a huge problem because the excess carbon dioxide that we create doesn't have enough time to go through its cycle in the water. this raises a problem for the shelled species because when the ocean gains acidity their shells dissolve and get smaller and smaller as the generations go forward. this is a problem also for the keystone species in these ecosystems because they aren't provided with enough food to have a steady population and do their job as a keystone species. without keystone species the whole food chain they are apart of would collapse and change the environment as a result. as an example, sea urchins will get smaller and smaller as the PH in the water rises and the water gains acidity resulting in sea otters loosing their main food source. sea otters (the keystone species in this example) will decrease in population meaning that the sea urchins and kelp forests wouldn't be kept in check. this would mean kelp forests would take over the ecosystem allowing for other populations to skyrocket, becoming unbalanced.