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Marine life mostly depends on the ocean chemistry staying somewhat constant are coral reefs.

So, these organisms create their life from calcium carbonate and will eventually house other organisms within their anatomy.

Extreme acidification may decrease coral growth by corroding pre-existing coral skeletons; simultaneously slowing the growth of new ones.

Now, the weaker reefs are more vulnerable to corrosion. Besides, larvae that inhabit the coral to reproduce may find the acidification too harmful, preventing them from reaching adulthood.

Other species oysters, mussels, urchins and fish are affected by acidification. Also, this ocean acidification plays a crucial role in the development of an organism’s shells. Which affects their overall lifespan.

These shellfish cause 25% of less development of their shells. It is becoming thinner and brittle. Without their only source of protection, this can make them more vulnerable to the harsh reality of the ocean.

Plankton is the procedure of marine spices and the catalyst of the food chain.

Also, Phytoplankton and zooplankton possess calcium carbonate bodies which eventually leads their species to endanger.

Sea urchins face the faster dissolve of their spiny exoskeletons due to the calcite calcium carbonate chemistry — unlike their aragonite calcium carbonate friends, such as coral and starfish.

Still, the fish are detrimentally affected by the effects of ocean acidification. More explicitly, studies have shown that clownfish lose their hearing in more acidic water. Most importantly, the fish are more vulnerable to predation and communication among the species is hindered.

Ocean acidification may alter the ecosystems of millions of years.

Also, it has the influence to contaminate shellfish that humans consume. Changes are a must to preserve our marine ecosystems to prevent the extinction of wildlife.

Right now, the ocean is on pace to become 150% more acidic by 2100. And this ocean acidification is an unswerving consequence of human-made carbon emissions. Now, it is up to us to take action before large ocean ecosystems are interrupted.

Ocean acidification and disruption of marine ecosystems

Since the thriving industrial revolution, the betting on fossil fuels has caused an excessive release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. And, it is being absorbed by our earth’s oceans.

When carbon dioxide combines with seawater, it produces carbonic acid which increases the acidity of the water. Therefore, it is happening for many years and causes uneven ocean ecosystems.

In the seawater, chemical reactions occur with carbon dioxide that lowers seawater pH. Accordingly, it reduces carbonate concentration and reduces saturation states of biologically important calcium carbonate materials.

Consequently, the ocean’s chemistry becomes more acidic, carbonate ions face difficultly to form. The carbonate ions are used by marine creatures, for synthesize their calcium carbonate shells and skeletons.

As the pH of the ocean changes, the ocean becomes unconcentrated with these minerals, which affects the creatures to maintain their shells.