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What are the Effects of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reefs?
According to Climate interpreter some studies have shown a 52-73% decline in larval settlement on reefs that are experiencing lower pH levels. Coral reefs create the most biodiverse habitat because their appearance is essential for thousands of marine species. The stony hard structures of corals are composed of calcium carbonate. Corals rely on a specific pH balance to extract calcium from the seawater for their sheilds. Ocean acidification extremely affects the ability for corals to develop and recover. As a result there will be coral bleaching and the corals will have a higher risk to diseases. This means that coral colonies in the future will be more brittle and less resilient to other factors influencing their survival.