Ocean Acidification Disrupting Food Chains

Ocean Acidification Disrupting Food Chains

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Shellfish respond to increasing acidification in seawater – such as that produced by climate change – by producing lighter, thinner shells. As more and more carbon dioxide is generated by human beings, it becomes dissolved in the oceans, making them more acidic. And according to British, Australian and Singaporean scientists, this is affecting the size and weight of shells and skeletons, in a trend affecting many marine species.

As these creatures are an important food source for marine predators – and human beings – there could be effects on the global food chain.