A new study conducted showed that increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have been impacting the shell growth of aquatic animals such as crabs and sea urchins. The sea urchin on the left was raised in waters with extremely high CO2 levels, while the sea urchin on the right was raised in CO2 conditions similar to the current situation. The difference is substancial.
When CO2 becomes dissolves in water, the water becomes slightly acidic. In addition to that, CO2 in water reduces the amount of carbon ions available, which organisms use to build their shells. For these reasons, scientists were concerned with the shelled organisms.
Fortunatly, animals are quick to adapt. Research has shown that, although the creatures' shells are eaten away by the acidic water, the organisms just adapt and create tougher shells more quickly to compensate.
This may be because the total amount of dissolved inorganic carbon available to them is actually increased when the ocean becomes more acidic, even though the concentration of carbonate ions is decreased.
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