Ocean Acidification study shows more troubles for our already struggling coral reefs

With rising carbon dioxide levels in the oceans, the water is becoming more and more acidic. Having more acidic waters is only increasing the struggle's corals are facing now. Higher temperatures have been threatening our coral reefs for years, and now they are going to be battling waters with a lower pH. Corals are not able to reproduce very easily in a lower pH environment, making the survival of the Acropora palmata (Elkhorn Coral), much more difficult.

This coral larva can only survive in somewhat basic waters, if not neutral waters. Coral larva are very vulnerable to diseases and predators with normal water parameters, never mind water that has a lower pH. This coral is considered one of the main building blocks of coral reefs. Elkhorn coral has a large skeleton that is left behind when the organism dies, creating a lot of real estate for new coral larva to grow on, and develop a new colony. These corals have an exoskeleton much like clams, crabs, and sea urchins. Having acidic water makes it much more difficult for these calcifying organisms to build there skeletons, thus allowing predators to easily come along and snatch the organism up. Ocean Acidification is a major issue that can be solved by lowering our carbon emissions, and no longer polluting our oceans.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101108151328.htm