Deep Dive Into Ocean Acidification

A DEEP DIVE INTO OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

By Kendall Rust

Summary

Ocean acidification is a significant environmental issue with wide-ranging impacts on marine ecosystems and human societies. The significance of ocean acidification lies in its potential to disrupt marine life, economic activities, and global climate patterns, highlighting the need for concerted global efforts to tackle this environmental challenge.

01

Ocean Acidification and You

What is it and why should you care?

What is it?

Ocean acidification is a critical environmental issue resulting from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), leading to more acidic ocean waters. The issue of ocean acidification is deeply rooted in natural sciences, particularly in the fields of marine biology, oceanography, and environmental science.

Why it Matters

As CO2 levels rise, the ocean's acidity increases, disrupting the delicate balance of marine life and affecting crucial organisms like pteropods and foraminifera, which play key roles in the food web. This disruption has far-reaching implications, potentially leading to declines in biodiversity and economic impacts on fisheries and coastal communities.

02

Unveiling the Evidence

Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Pteropods and Foraminifera

• Pteropods and foraminifera are small drifting animals that play crucial roles in ocean food webs and the carbon cycle. (Bennett, 2023)
• Empirical evidence suggests that foraminifera do not tolerate higher acidity well, as their shells dissolve rapidly in more acidic waters. (Bennett, 2023)
• Furthermore, the dissolution of pteropod shells in the Southern Ocean due to increased acidity highlights the vulnerability of these organisms to ocean acidification. (Bennett, 2023)

How Does Higher Acidity Affect Zoo Plankton?

What is the Role of Shelled Organisms in Climate Regulation?

• When shelled zooplankton and phytoplankton die and sink to the ocean floor, their calcium carbonate shells are deposited as sediment or rock. (Bennett, 2023)
• When this happens, it effectively sequesters carbon for the long term. This process plays a crucial role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate the temperature increase associated with the greenhouse effect. (Bennett, 2023)

• One study by S. Uthicke of the Australian Institute of Marine Science forecasts that foraminifera in tropical regions could face extinction by the end of the century. (Uthicke et al., 2013)

03

Motivation and Significance

Why Ocean Acidification Matters to Me Personally

My Motivation

I chose to investigate the issue of ocean acidification because of my interests in the environment and marine biology. Understanding and addressing ocean acidification is crucial for the preservation of marine ecosystems and biodiversity, which are vital for the overall health of our planet. Therefore, I believe that investigating this issue is important for raising awareness, understanding its implications, and contributing to the development of effective mitigation strategies.

Shifting Perspectives:

My investigation into ocean acidification has profoundly changed my perspective on the issue. By adopting a scientific approach—formulating questions, developing hypotheses, and conducting research—I gained a deeper understanding of how ocean acidification affects marine organisms and ecosystems. This analytical mindset allowed me to critically evaluate empirical evidence, such as the rapid shell dissolution of these organisms in acidic waters, revealing their vulnerability and underscoring the urgent need for research and mitigation strategies. Overall, thinking like a scientist has reinforced the importance of addressing ocean acidification as a pressing environmental challenge.

Citations on next slide.

Thank You.

References

• Bennett, J. (2023, May 11). Ocean acidification. Smithsonian Ocean. https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/ocean-acidification
• Doney, S. C., Fabry, V. J., Feely, R. A., & Kleypas, J. A. (2009). Ocean acidification: The other CO₂problem. Annual Review of Marine Science, 1(1), 169–192. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.marine.010908.163834
• Orr, J. C., Fabry, V. J., Aumont, O., Bopp, L., Doney, S. C., Feely, R. A., Gnanadesikan, A., Gruber, N., Ishida, A., Joos, F., Key, R. M., Lindsay, K., Maier-Reimer, E., Matear, R., Monfray, P., Mouchet, A., Najjar, R. G., Plattner, G.-K., Rodgers, K. B., … Yool, A. (2005). Anthropogenic ocean acidification over the twenty-first century and its impact on calcifying organisms. Nature, 437(7059), 681–686. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04095
• Uthicke, S., Momigliano, P., & Fabricius, K. E. (2013). High risk of extinction of benthic foraminifera in this century due to ocean acidification. Scientific Reports, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep01769