Biomineral shell formation under ocean acidification: a shift from order to chaos

What is it about?

Increasing atmospheric CO2 is being absorbed by the oceans, causing the oceans to become more acidic. By examining the effect that more acidic oceans will have on organisms with shells, we show that future acidic oceans case mussel shells to be less crystalline.

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Why is it important?

Oceans absorb CO2 and thus limit the quantity of the greenhouse gas, CO2 accumulating in our atmosphere. CO2 that is absorbed in the ocean can be locked up for a long time in the form of calcium carbonate biominerals (shells). However, acidic water dissolves shells and so there is concern that, as atmopsheric CO2 increases, the ability of our oceans to absorb this CO2 will be diminished and marine ecosystems damaged.