Photo: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

MIT Sea Grant Research Scientist Carolina Bastidas and Coastal Ecologist Juliet Simpson developed and led a hands-on activity in ocean acidification at the High School Marine Science Symposium (HSMSS) at Northeastern University. Seawater is becoming more acidic as a result of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide. Many marine organisms produce shells or skeletons from carbonate minerals, and increasingly acidic oceans will have negative impacts on them. Moreover, acidification can affect animals in other ways. They experimentally examined these effects on skeletons of marine organisms such as oysters, mussels and crabs, and discussed the potential consequences for these and other organisms in their communities.

More information about the High School Marine Science Symposium (HSMSS) at Northeastern University