Topic > The impacts of increasing ocean acidity on coral reefs

The most biodiverse form of habitat in the oceans are spectacular coral reefs made up of corals. Their existence enhances the survival of thousands of other living organisms in the ocean environment. Most of these organisms are used by deities as food. The corals that form the reef, also called stony corals, have a stone-like structure made up of calcium carbonate, a composition of minerals that exists primarily in the shells of numerous marine organisms such as snails, clams and oysters. Just like these molluscs, the calcium present in sea water is essential for corals to build their hard skeleton and is essential especially in the initial stages of the life of coral polyps where they settle on a hard material and the process of building the coral begins. skeleton. . Studies conducted in marine environments indicate that there is a 52-73% decrease in larval settlement on coral reefs due to reductions in ocean pH. Studies show that there is a negative impact on the calcification rate of hard coral due to ocean acidification. This essay will focus on how increasing ocean acidity affects coral reefs. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Numerous environmental factors that have an effect on coral reefs have been studied to create in-depth insight into how the fragile coral reef ecosystem can survive the increasing acidic ocean conditions in current years (Meissner, Lippmann & Gupta, 2012). Recently, global warming has been seen as an imminent threat to coral reefs. However, the phenomenon of ocean acidification (OA) has proven to be one of the factors that greatly affects the existence and survival of coral reefs. Ocean acidification (OA) is the result of weak acid that forms after atmospheric carbon monoxide IV dissolves in ocean water. In recent years, studies have shown that the pH of ocean water has decreased from a pH of 8.2 to 8.1 over 100 years. Using models it is predicted that by 2100 the pH value will have dropped to 7.6. Such a drop in the pH value represents a great threat to coral reefs, whose life depends on chalk, which is highly soluble in acidic water (Meissner, Lippmann & Gupta, 2012). Currently, the first signs of ocean acidification (OA) have begun to reveal themselves in long-term climate records that are hidden in the skeletons of huge coral colonies that have been growing on land since the times of the industrial revolution. In an attempt to predict how ocean acidification impacts coral reefs, much research has been conducted by performing experiments on corals which are then incubated in environments that have a high level of carbon dioxide that replicates the type of conditions expected within the next 50 to 100 years. years (Andersson and Gledhill, 2013). The experiments proved successful in identifying how this organism would react with significant geochemical or ecological consequences. It has been noted that as ocean acidity increases, calcification is reduced and the growth of seagrasses and macroalgae increases. This analysis makes predictions about how the structure of coral reefs will change in the future and how the ocean ecosystem will be affected. In the future, OA will limit the ability of fish to use their sense of smell to detect predators and locate the best places for larvae to develop (Andersson, & Gledhill, 2013). The OA will then have an effect