Ocean acidification is affecting the chemistry of seawater, causing it to become more acidic. This change in pH can have devastating effects on the marine food chain, starting with the smallest organisms, such as plankton and shellfish, which form the basis of the food chain. Acidic water can dissolve the shells of shellfish and make it more difficult for plankton to form their calcium carbonate shells. This can have cascading effects on larger organisms that rely on these smaller ones for food, such as fish and marine mammals. Ocean acidification has the potential to significantly disrupt the balance of the entire marine ecosystem.
