Ocean Acidification and Marine Life

The video discusses marine pteropods, also known as sea butterflies, and their importance as a food source in the ocean. It explains how the burning of fossil fuels has increased CO2 levels, leading to ocean acidification. This process decreases the availability of calcium carbonate, essential for shell-building organisms like pteropods and corals. Scientific research has shown significant changes in ocean chemistry over the past decades, with surface waters being more affected. These changes threaten marine ecosystems and the human communities that rely on them.

What are marine pteropods commonly known as?

• Ocean snails

• Water beetles

• Marine moths

• Sea butterflies

What is the primary cause of ocean acidification?

• Increased oxygen levels

• Decreased hydrogen levels

• Decreased nitrogen levels

• Increased carbon dioxide levels

How does carbon dioxide affect seawater when absorbed?

• It releases oxygen

• It decreases salinity

• It forms carbonic acid

• It increases the pH

What is the expected change in ocean pH by the end of the century if CO2 emissions continue?

• From 8.2 to 8.5

• From 8.2 to 7.8

• From 7.5 to 7.2

• From 7.8 to 8.2

Which marine species are most affected by decreased availability of calcium carbonate?

• Seaweed

• Marine mammals

• Species with shells and exoskeletons

• Fish with scales

What evidence do scientists use to confirm ocean acidification?

• Fish population counts

• Satellite images

• Water temperature readings

• Chemical changes in ocean samples

Between which years did scientists observe a significant decrease in shell mineral availability in surface waters?

• 2000 and 2010

• 1991 and 2005

• 2010 and 2020

• 1980 and 1990

Which areas of the ocean are most impacted by ocean acidification?

• Polar regions

• Shallow waters

• Tropical waters

• Deep ocean areas

What forms the basis of most oceanic food chains?

• Sea turtles

• Large fish

• Coral reefs

• Phytoplankton and zooplankton

Why is ocean acidification a concern for coastal communities?

• It causes more storms

• It increases sea levels

• It impacts fisheries and marine biodiversity

• It affects tourism