Question

Mingli says that the fish and other marine organisms we eat should be able to adapt to more acidic water. He believes that people should let the problem of ocean acidification take care of itself because evolution will enable organisms to survive or even thrive in changing ocean habitats. What is the main problem with this theory?

Option a: Evolution is too slow to prevent the loss of many species.
Option b: The adapted or evolved organisms may not be as edible.
Option c: The oceans may not remain acidic in the future.
Option d: People should take action to help speed up evolution.

Answer 1

The main problem with the theory is that evolution is too slow to address the rapid changes in ocean acidity which can lead to the loss of many species before they have a chance to adapt.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main problem with Mingli's theory that organisms should be able to adapt to more acidic water due to evolution is that evolution is too slow to prevent the loss of many species (Option a). Ocean acidification, a consequence of increased atmospheric CO₂ levels from burning fossil fuels, significantly lowers the pH of the water, affecting coral reefs, mollusks, and other marine organisms. These changes can disrupt marine food webs and diminish biodiversity. Additionally, organisms like pteropods are already experiencing shell dissolution due to current levels of acidity, which poses an immediate threat to marine ecosystems. Due to these rapid environmental changes, many organisms may not have sufficient time to evolve adaptations to the more acidic conditions.