Question

1. Are there any positive outcomes for life in the ocean from an increase in Acidity?

2. What are arthropods and how can acidity change their population? How are they important in the food web?
3. How does a decrease in pH (increase in Acidity) affect shellfish?
4. How does a decrease in pH (increase in Acidity) affect corals?
5. Is it possible to predict exactly HOW an increase in acidity will affect food webs in the ocean? Why and why not?

Answer 1

Ocean acidification, caused by increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, has negative effects on marine life, particularly organisms that rely on calcium carbonate for their shells and skeletons. It can harm shellfish and corals, and disrupt the ocean food web.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ocean acidification is the process of ocean waters decreasing in pH due to the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This increase in acidity has negative effects on marine life, such as plankton, mollusks, shellfish, and corals. These organisms rely on calcium carbonate to build their shells and skeletons, which becomes less available as acidity increases. Therefore, a decrease in pH can harm shellfish and corals, and can disrupt the food web in the ocean.