Ocean acidification threatens coral reefs

MIAMI, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Increasing acidification of the world's oceans could threaten the ability of the world's corals to maintain and create ocean reefs, U.S. researchers say.

Particularly worrying to researchers is that acidification, which happens as increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolve in the ocean and form acid, could interfere with coral egg fertilization and larval development, halving the amount of coral produced worldwide by 2050, ScienceNews.org reported.

In tests with seawater modified to have an acid content reflecting conditions expected later this century, a 13 percent drop in successful fertilizing of eggs occurred, Rebecca Albright of the University of Miami says.

With carbon dioxide emission growing since the industrial revolution, global seawater has dropped from about 8.2 on the pH scale to between about 8.05 and 8.1, about a 30 percent increase in acidity.

While seawater is still basic, and not yet acidic, the change in pH has been enough to have biological effects, researchers say.