Return to questions list Phytoplankton and Zooplankton?
Changes in the carbonate chemistry of the ocean may have a strong negative impact on many plankton and zooplankton species that form the base of the marine food chain. In almost all calcifying organisms tested, ranging from single-celled organisms up to reef building corals, there is a decrease in the ability of the organism to produce calcium carbonate in more acidic waters (6). One study has documented the changes in two species of coccolithophores grown under conditions expected by the end of this century, where both species show significant decreases (25 – 45%) in calcification rates and clear signs of structural damage in their shells, which may affect their physical functioning and reproduction. However, not all species of calcifying organisms are negatively affected by increased acidity, and more research is needed to understand these mechanisms and possible adaptation pathways(7). The first two photos on the left show scanning electron microscopy photographs of the calcifying p
