– Ocean acidification refers to an increase in the acidity of the ocean<\/strong> caused primarily by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere<\/strong>, followed by chemical reactions in the water that acidifies the saltwater (IPCC Report).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n – Oceans have absorbed between 24 and 33%<\/strong> of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions during the past five or six decades (Bill\u00e9 2013, 762).<\/span><\/p>\n – Arctic waters are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification due to the low temperature of polar waters compared to other waters and the higher capacity of cold waters to absorb carbon dioxide (Bates, Cai, and Mathis 2011, 197). <\/span><\/p>\n – Shelled organisms\u00a0 such as corals, oysters, crabs, pteropods, and other shellfish depend on carbonate ions and minerals to build their shells<\/strong> and skeletons<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0(AMAP 2013, 3). <\/span><\/p>\n – Increases in ocean acidity reduces the concentration of <\/span>carbonate<\/span> ions, leading to corrosion of shells and skeletons<\/strong>, and a very stressful environment for all species.<\/span><\/p>\n – Not only does ocean acidification have a large impact on marine ecosystems, but also on commercial and subsistence fisheries, tourism, other sectors that depend on these ecosystems.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/courses.bowdoin.edu\/gov-2577-spring-2021-managing-the-effects-of-climate-change\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/527\/2021\/05\/state-diagram-carbonates-conditions-oceans-2100-300x200.jpeg\")
<\/a>What Happens to Shelled Organisms?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/courses.bowdoin.edu\/gov-2577-spring-2021-managing-the-effects-of-climate-change\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/527\/2021\/05\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-16-at-10.46.35-AM-300x124.png\")
<\/a>Check out this video on Northwest Shellfish:<\/h4>\n