Ocean Acidification – Review

Abstract

When carbon dioxide dissolves in oceans it forms carbonic acid, which activated chemical reactions that typically decrease the pH (increasing the acidity) while reducing the availability of buffers such as carbonates. Most water living organisms particularly fish depend on their chemoreceptors to detect the odor of food, finding mates for reproduction, predators/prey recognition, homing clues etc. When chemoreceptors are compromised due to ocean acidification the life of fish is disoriented and in chaos. The carbonates are not only acting as buffers in oceans, seas or rivers but are crucial in that many shellfish and corals need it to build their skeletons and shells. When the carbonate percent is reduced, organisms spend more time on shell building and less on eating and basic survival skills. This harm the organism and eventually reduces the entire population.

Keywords: acidification, carbonate, ocean, pH, shells

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