Topic > Ocean acidification: the ocean's effects on the oceans

The main composition of ocean chemistry that is affected by atmospheric CO2 is mostly known and can be precisely calculated. However, there is much uncertainty about the biological effects caused by ocean acidification and how it will vary between organisms; some may cope better than others. Although research on ocean acidification is still very young, there is already evidence of biological impacts due to changes in ocean chemistry. The clearest evidence of the impacts of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems can be seen in experiments on calcifying organisms. When seawater is acidified to various amounts, the formation and dissolution of calcium carbonate shells and skeletons occurs in marine organisms such as reef-forming corals, oysters, and mussels, as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton that form the basis of marine food webs ("Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy…”,