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Threat

Ocean Acidification

Extra CO₂ in the water weakens shells and coral skeletons

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What it is

Extra CO₂ in the water weakens shells and coral skeletons

Why it matters

Ocean Acidification can disrupt marine habitats, species survival, and food-web stability. Its effects often spread beyond the original disturbance through connected ocean systems.

Ocean Literacy Connections

This resource can be explored through Ocean makes life possible and Ocean and humans.

Ocean makes life possibleOcean and humans
  • How did the ocean help make Earth a place where life could thrive?
  • How does the ocean affect our lives, and how do our choices affect the ocean?
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Open the threat view to compare this card with mapped marine threats and broader ecosystem context.

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Related ecoregions

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Red Sea
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Coral reefs line the warm, salty Red Sea. They are home to many fish and corals found nowhere else, making them very unique. The reefs are beautiful but fragile, as they live in very hot, salty waters. Rising temperatures and salinity changes put them at risk.

Great Barrier Reef
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Warm, clear seas here host over 600 kinds of corals, the highest number in the world. Reefs, seagrass, and mangroves create shelter for thousands of species. It is Earth’s richest marine region and builds vast limestone reef structures.

Mesoamerican Reef
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The Mesoamerican Reef stretches from Mexico to Honduras and is the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. Coral reefs, seagrass, and mangroves here form a patchwork of habitats. Thousands of species live in this maze of ecosystems, from colorful fish to turtles. It is vital for fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection.