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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Biological Impacts from Acidification

Ocean acidification changes water chemistry in ways that can hinder how marine species grow, reproduce, and survive.

Introduction

Biological Impacts Graphics

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Species react differently to environmental pH and aragonite saturation values. “Thresholds”, or tipping points, are a level when negative reactions start to occur, however, there can be a range of biological reactions to low pH and aragonite saturation values. There are natural differences in pH and aragonite saturation values across different coastal and marine habitats. Species can survive in a range of conditions, however, long-term survival depends on how species respond to unfavorable conditions at various life stages. For example, while adult species may be able to survive at low pH or aragonite saturation conditions, larval stages may not be able to survive in those same conditions.

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VIEW BIOLOGICAL IMPACTS GRAPHICS

The <a href="/biological-impacts-from-acidification/aragonite-range-at-which-mortality-occurs-for-various-life-stages-of-mid-atlantic-finfish">Biological Impacts Graphics</a> show conditions where negative impacts have been observed (blue and teal points and ranges), and potentially lethal (red lines) conditions for Mid-Atlantic species. Any pH or aragonite saturation state value above the points or ranges are considered to be healthy conditions where negative responses were not observed within the studies that were surveyed to create these graphics.

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The data from the experiments may also span a range of environmental conditions, such different temperatures and/or salinities, which will affect the range of pH or aragonite saturation state at which adverse effects may occur in species. For example, an experiment may test a species at a fixed CO2 level but alter the temperature. Since pH and aragonite saturation state have some level of temperature dependence, different outcomes may be reported for the same species.
These graphics represent a range of environmental conditions where pH and aragonite saturation state may impact species in the wild. For an in depth description of all the experimental conditions, a full list of the references used to compile the information in the graphics is <a href="#reference-content-block">listed at the bottom of this page</a>.

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What is pH and Why is It Important?

What is Aragonite Saturation and Why is It Important?

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Learn More about ph

pH is a scale that measures how acidic or basic the water is and ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, while values below 7 are acidic and values above 7 are basic. Each whole pH value (for example 7 to 8) represents a tenfold change in acidity or basicity. Typical open ocean pH is 8.2 to 8.1, whereas coastal and estuarine pH is lower, typically around 7.9.
Organisms can not survive when pH is too low or too high. When pH gets too low, or acidic, for organisms, biological functions such as reproduction, shell or skeleton formation, and growth can decrease or stop altogether.

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Cameron, L. P., Grabowski, J. H., and Ries, J. B. 2022. Effects of elevated pCO2 and temperature on the calcification rate, survival, extrapallial fluid chemistry, and respiration of the Atlantic Sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus. Limnol. Oceanogr., 67: 1670-1686. doi: 10.1002/lno.12153

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Dickinson, G. H., Matoo, O. B., Tourek, R. T., Sokolova, I. M., and Beniash, E. 2013. Environmental salinity modulates the effects of elevated CO2 levels on juvenile hard-shell clams, Mercenaria mercenaria. J. Exp. Biol., 216: 2607-2618.

Appelhans, Y. S., Thomsen, J., Opitz, S., Pansch, C., Melzner, F., and Wahl, M. 2014. Juvenile sea stars exposed to acidification decrease feeding and growth with no acclimation potential. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 509: 227-239. doi: 10.3354/meps10884

Di Santo, V. 2016. Intraspecific variation in physiological performance of a benthic elasmobranch challenged by ocean acidification and warming. J. Exp. Biol., 219: 1725-1733. doi: 10.1242/jeb.139204

Dodd, L. F., Grabowski, J. H., Piehler, M. F., Westfield, I., and Ries, J. B. 2021. Juvenile Eastern Oysters More Resilient to Extreme Ocean Acidification than Their Mud Crab Predators. Geochem. Geophys. Geosystems, 22: e2020GC009180

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Ferreira, S. 2021. Future ocean warming and acidification: Simultaneous impacts on the green crab Carcinus maenas. Masters thesis, Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto.

Franke, A. and Clemmesen, C. 2011. Effect of ocean acidification on early life stages of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus L.). Biogeosci., 8: 3697-3707. doi: 10.5194/bg-8-3697-2011

Frommel, A. Y., Maneja, R., Lowe, D., Malzahn, A. M., Geffen, A. J., et al. 2012. Severe tissue damage in Atlantic cod larvae under increasing ocean acidification. Nat. Clim. Change, 2: 42-46. doi: 10.1038/nclimate1324

Frommel, A. Y., Margulies, D., Wexler, J. B., Stein, M. S., Scholey, V. P., Williamson, J. E., Bronhead, D., Nicol, S., and Havenhand, J. 2016. Ocean acidification has lethal and sub-lethal effects on larval development of yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 482: 18-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2016.04.008

Gazeau, F., Gattuso, J.-P., Dawber, C., Pronker, A. E., Peene, F., Peene, J., Heip, C. H. R., and Middelburg, J. J. 2010. Effect of ocean acidification on the early life stages of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis. Beogeosciences, 7: 2051-2060. doi: 10.5194/bg-7-2051-2010

Giltz, S. M., and Taylor, C. M. 2017. Reduced Growth and Survival in the Larval Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus Under Predicted Ocean Acidification. J. Shellfish Res., 36(2): 481-485. https://doi.org/10.2983/035.036.0219

Glaspie, C. N., Longmire, K., and Seitz, R. D. 2017. Acidification alters predator-prey interactions of blue crab Callinectes sapidus and soft-shell clam Mya arenaria. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 489: 58-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2016.11.010

Bechmann, R. K., Taban, I. C., Westerlund, S., Godal, B. F., Arnberg, M., Vingen, S., Ingvarsdottir, A., and Baussant, T. 2011. Effects of Ocean Acidification on Early Life Stages of Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) and Mussel (Mytilus edulis). J. Toxicol. Environ. Health - A, 74(7-9): 424-438. https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2011.550460

Gobler, C. J. and Talmage, S. C. 2013. Short- and long-term consequences of larval stage exposure to constantly and ephemerally elevated carbon dioxide for marine bivalve populations. Biogeosci., 10: 2241-2253.

Gobler, C. J. and Talmage, S. C. 2014. Physiological response and resilience of early life-stage Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) to past, present and future ocean acidification. Conserv. Physiol., 2(1): cou004. https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/cou004

Gobler, C. J., DePasquale, E. L., Griffith, A. W., and Baumann, H. 2014. Hypoxia and Acidification Have Additive and Synergistic Negative Effects on the Growth, Survival, and Metamorphosis of Early Life Stage Bivalves. PLoS ONE, 9(1): e83648. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083648

Gobler, C. J., Merlo, L. R., Morrell, B. K., Griffith, A. W. 2018. Temperature, Acidification, and Food Supply Interact to Negatively Affect the Growth and Survival of the Forage Fish, Menidia beryllina (Inland Silverside), and Cyprinodon variegatus (Sheepshead Minnow). Front. Mar. Sci., 5: 86. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00086

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Gurr, S. J., McFarland, K., Bernatchez, G., Dixon, M. S., Guy, L., et al. 2024. Effects of food supply on northern bay scallops Argopecten irradians reared under two pCO2 conditions. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 740: 61-78. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14624

Kaplan, M. B., Mooney, T. A., McCorkle, D. C., and Cohen, A. L. 2013. Adverse Effects of Ocean Acidification on Early Development of Squid (Doryteuthis pealeii). PLoS ONE, 8(5): e63714. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063714

Keppel, E. A., Scrosati, R. A., and Courtenay, S. C. 2012. Ocean Acidification Decreases Growth and Development in American Lobster (Homarus americanus) Larvae. J. Northw. Atl. Fish. Sci., 44: 61-66. doi: 10.2960/J.v44.m683

Kim, J.-H., Kang, E. J., Edwards, M. S., Lee, K., Jeong, H.-J., and Kim, K. Y. 2016. Species-specific responses of temperate macroalgae with different photosynthetic strategies to ocean acidification: a mesocosm study. Algae, 31(3): 243-256.

Kriefall, N. G., Pechenik, J. A., Pires, A., Davies, S. W. 2018. Resilience of Atlantic Slippersnail Crepidula fornicata Larvae in the Face of Severe Coastal Acidification. Front. Mar. Sci., 5: 312. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00312

Bednaršek, N., Feely, R. A., Howes, E. L., Hunt, B. P. V., Kessouri, F., et al. 2019. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Toward Synthesis of Thresholds of Ocean Acidification Impacts on Calcifying Pteropods and Interactions With Warming. Front. Mar. Sci., 6: 227. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00227

Li, S., Liu, C., Huang, J., Liu, Y., Zheng, G., Xie, L., and Zhang, R. 2015. Interactive effects of seawater acidification and elevated temperature on biomineralization and amino acid metabolism in the mussel Mytilus edulis. J. Exp. Biol., 218: 3623-3631. doi: 10.1242/jeb.126748

Liu, Y.-W., Wanamaker Jr., A. D., Aciego, S. M., Searles, I., Hangstad, T. A., Chierici, M., Carroll, M. L. 2023. Resistant calcification responses of Arctica islandica clams under ocean acidification conditions. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 560: 151855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2022.151855

Lonthair, J., Ern, R., and Esbaugh, A. J. 2017. The early life stages of an estuarine fish, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), are tolerant to high pCO2. ICES J. Mar. Sci., 74(4): 1042-1050. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsw225

Lowell, A., Infantes, E., West, L., Puishys, L., Hill, C. E. L., Ramesh, K., Peterson, B., Cebrian, J., Dupont, S., and Cox, T. E. 2021. How Does Ocean Acidification Affect the Early Life History of Zostera marina? A Series of Experiments Find Parental Carryover Can Benefit Viability or Germination. Front. Mar. Sci., 8: 762086. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.762086

McCormick, S. D. and Regish, A. M. 2018. Effects of ocean acidification on salinity tolerance and seawater growth of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts. J. Fish. Biol., 93: 560-566. doi: 10.1111/jfb.13656

McGarrigle, S. A. and Hunt, H. L. 2023. Effects of semidiurnal water column acidification and sediment presence on growth and survival of the bivalve Mya arenaria. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 562: 151872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2023.151872

McLean, E. L., Katenka, N. V., and Seibel, B. A. 2018. Decreased growth and increased shell disease in early benthic phase Homarus americanus in response to elevated CO2. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 596: 113-126. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12586

Melatunan, S., Calosi, P., Rundle, S. D., Widdicombe, S., and Moody, A. J. 2013. Effects of ocean acidification and elevated temperature on shell plasticity and its energetic basis in an intertidal gastropod. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 742: 155-168. doi: 10.3354/meps10046

Menu-Courey, K., Noisette, F., Piedalue, S., Daoud, D., Blair, T., Blier, P. U., Azetsu-Scott, K., and Calosi, P. 2019. Energy metabolism and survival of the juvenile recruits of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) exposed to a gradient of elevated seawater pCO2. Mar. Environ. Res., 143: 111-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.10.002

Meseck, S. L., Redman, D. H., Mercaldo-Allen, R., Clark, P., Rose, J. M., and Perry, D. M. 2022. Resilience of Black Sea Bass Embryos to Increased Levels of Carbon Dioxide. Mar. Coast. Fish., 14(2): e10200. https://doi.org/10.1002/mcf2.10200

Bednaršek, N., Ambrose, R., Calosi, P., Childers, R. K., Feely, R. A., et al. 2021. Synthesis of Thresholds of Ocean Acidification Impacts on Decapods. Front. Mar. Sci., 8: 651102. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.651102

Miller, A. W., Reynolds, A. C., Sobrino, C., and Riedel, G. F. 2009. Shellfish Face Uncertain Future in High CO2 World: Influence of Acidification on Oyster Larvae Calcification and Growth in Estuaries. PLoS ONE, 4(5): e5661. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005661

Miller, A. W., Reynolds, A., Minton, M. S., and Smith, R. 2020. Evidence for stage-based larval vulnerability and resilience to acidification in Crassostrea virginica. J. Molluscan Stud., 86(4): 342-351. https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyaa022

Munday, P. L., Watson, S.-A., Parsons, D. M., King, A., Barr, N. G., Mcleod, I. M., Allan, B. J. M., and Pether, S. M. J. 2016. Effects of elevated CO2 on early life history development of the yellowtail kingfish, Seriola lalandi, a large pelagic fish. ICES J. Mar. Sci., 73(3): 641-649. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsv210

Murray, C. S. and Baumann, H. 2018. You Better Repeat It: Complex CO2 × Temperature Effects in Atlantic Silverside Offspring Revealed by Serial Experimentation. Diversity, 10(3): 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/d10030069

Murray, C. S. and Baumann, H. 2020. Are long-term growth responses to elevated pCO2 sex-specific in fish? PLoS ONE, 15(7): e0235817. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235817

Murray, C. S., Malvezzi, A., Gobler, C. J., and Baumann, H. 2014. Offspring sensitivity to ocean acidification changes seasonally in a coastal marine fish. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 504: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10791

Murray, C. S., Wiley, D., and Baumann, H. 2019. High sensitivity of a keystone forage fish to elevated CO2 and temperature. Conserv. Physiol., 7(1): coz084. https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coz084

Noisette, F., Bordeyne, F., Davoult, D., and Martin, S. 2016. Assessing the physiological responses of the gastropod Crepidula fornicata to predicted ocean acidification and warming. Limnol. Oceanogr., 61: 430-444. doi: 10.1002/lno.10225

Noisette, F., Calosi, P., Madeira, D., Chemel, M., Menu-Courey, K., Piedalue, S., Gurney-Smith, H., Daoud, D., and Azetsu-Scott, K. 2021. Tolerant Larvae and Sensitive Juveniles: Integrating Metabolomics and Whole-Organism Responses to Define Life-Stage Specific Sensitivity to Ocean Acidification in the American Lobster. Metabolites, 11(9): 584. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11090584

Nunes, J., McCoy, S. J., Findlay, H. S., Hopkins, F. E., Kitidis, V., Queirós, A. M., Rayner, L., and Widdicombe, S. 2015. Two intertidal, non-calcifying macroalgae (Palmaria palmata and Saccharina latissima) show complex and variable responses to short-term CO2 acidification. ICES J. Mar. Sci., 73(3): 887-896. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsv081

Beniash, E., Ivanina, A., Lieb, N. S., Kurochkin, I., and Sokolova, I. M. 2010. Elevated level of carbon dioxide affects metabolism and shell formation in oysters Crassostrea virginica. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 419: 95-108. doi: 10.3354/meps08841

Padilla, D. K., Milke, L., Akin-Fajiye, M., Rosa, M., Redman, D., Liguori, A., Rugila, A., Veilleux, D., Dixon, M., Charifson, D., and Meseck, S. L. 2024. Local differences in robustness to ocean acidification. Biol. Open, 13(8): bio060479. https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.060479

Perry, D. M., Redman, D. H., Widman Jr., J. C., Meseck, S., King, A., and Pereira, J. J. 2015. Effect of ocean acidification on growth and otolith condition of juvenile scup, Stenotomus chrysops. Ecol. Evol., 5(18): 4187-4196.

Pousse, E., Poach, M. E., Redman, D. H., Sennefelder, G., Hubbard, W., et al. 2023. Juvenile Atlantic sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, energetic response to increased carbon dioxide and temperature changes. PLOS Clim., 2(2): e0000142. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000142

Ries, J. B., Cohen, A. L., and McCorkle, D. C. 2009. Marine calcifiers exhibit mixed responses to CO2-induced ocean acidification. Geology, 37(12): 1131-1134. doi: 10.1130/G30210A.1

Ruiz-Jarabo, I., Laiz-Carrión, R., Ortega, A., de la Gándara, F., Quintanilla, J. M., and Mancera, J. M. 2022. Survival of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) larvae hatched at different salinity and pH conditions. Aquaculture, 560: 738457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2022.738457

Schneider, G., Horta, P. A., Calderon, E. N., Castro, C., Bianchini, A., et al. 2018. Structural and physiological responses of Halodule wrightii to ocean acidification. Protoplasma, 255: 629-641. https://doi.rg/10.1007/s00709-017-1176-y

Schwaner, C., Barbosa, M., Schwemmer, T. G., Espinosa, E. P., Allam, B. 2023. Increased Food Resources Help Eastern Oyster Mitigate the Negative Impacts of Coastal Acidification. Animals, 13(7): 1161. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13071161

Stevens, A. M. and Gobler, C. J. 2018. Interactive effects of acidification, hypoxia, and thermal stress on growth, respiration, and survival of four North Atlantic bivalves. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 604: 143-161. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12725

Stiasny, M. H., Mittermayer, F. H., Sswat, M., Voss, R., Jutfelt, F., et al. 2016. Ocean Acidification Effects on Atlantic Cod Larval Survival and Recruitment to the Fished Population. PLoS ONE, 11(8): e0155448. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155448

Talmage, S. C. and Gobler, C. J. 2009. The effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentrations on the metamorphosis, size, and survival of larval hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), bay scallops (Argopecten irradians), and Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Limnol. Oceanogr., 54(6): 2072-2080.

Bibby, R., Cleall-Harding, P., Rundle, S., Widdicombe, S., and Spicer, J. 2007. Ocean acidification

Talmage, S. C. and Gobler, C. J. 2010. Effects of past, present, and future ocean carbon dioxide concentrations on the growth and survival of larval shellfish. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 107(40): 17246-17251.

Talmage, S. C. and Gobler, C. J. 2011. Effects of Elevated Temperature and Carbon Dioxide on the Growth and Survival of Larvae and Juveniles of Three Species of Northwest Atlantic Bivalves. PLoS ONE, 6(10): e26941. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0026941

Tomasetti, S. J., Morrell, B. K., Merlo, L. R., and Gobler, C. J. 2018. Individual and combined effects of low dissolved oxygen and low pH on survival of early stage larval blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus. PLoS ONE, 13(12): e0208629. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208629

Waldbusser, G. G., Bergschneider, H., and Green, M. A. 2010. Size-dependent pH effect on calcification in post-larval hard clam Mercenaria spp. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 417: 171-182. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08809

Waldbusser, G. G., Voigt, E. P., Bergschneider, H., Green, M. A., Newell, R. I. E. 2011. Biocalcification in the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in Relation to Long-term Trends in Chesapeake Bay pH. Estuaries and Coasts, 34: 221-231.

White, M. M., McCorkle, D. C., Mullineaux, L. S., and Cohen, A. L. 2013. Early Exposure of Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians) to High CO2 Causes a Decrease in Larval Shell Growth. PLoS ONE, 8(4): e61065. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0061065

Young, C. S. and Gobler, C. J. 2018. The ability of macroalgae to mitigate the negative effects of ocean acidification on four species of North Atlantic bivalve. Biogeosci., 15: 6167-6183.

Zakroff, C. J. and Mooney, T. A. 2020. Antagonistic Interactions and Clutch-Dependent Sensitivity Induce Variable Responses to Ocean Acidification and Warming in Squid (Doryteuthis pealeii) Embryos and Paralarvae. Front. Physiol., 11: 501. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00501

Zakroff, C., Mooney, T. A., and Berumen, M. L. 2019. Dose-dependence and small-scale variability in responses to ocean acidification during squid, Doryteuthis pealeii, development. Mar. Biol., 166: 62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3510-8

Zavell, M. D. and Baumann, H. 2024. Resiliency of black sea bass, Centropristis striata, early life stages to future high CO2 conditions. Environ. Biol. Fish., 107: 677-691. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-024-01561-y

Bignami, S., Sponaugle, S., and Cowen, R. K. 2013. Response to ocean acidification in larvae of a large tropical marine fish, Rachycentron canadum. Glob. Change Biol., 19(4): 996-1006. doi: 10.1111/gcb.12133

Bignami, S., Sponaugle, S., and Cowen, R. K. 2014. Effects of ocean acidification on the larvae of a high-value pelagic fisheries species, mahi-mahi Coryphaena hippurus. Aquat. Biol., 21: 249-260. doi: 10.3354/ab00598

Bromhead, D., Scholey, V., Nicol, S., Margulies, D., Wexler, J., et al. 2015. The potential impact of ocean acidification upon eggs and larvae of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). Deep-Sea Res. II: Top. Stud. Oceanogr., 113: 268-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2014.03.019

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Aragonite range at which mortality occurs for various life stages of Mid-Atlantic Finfish

Aragonite range at which growth is hindered for various life stages of Mid-Atlantic Finfish & Invertebrates

Aragonite range at which mortality occurs for various life stages of Mid-Atlantic Shellfish

Aragonite range at which growth is hindered for various life stages of Mid-Atlantic Shellfish

pH range at which growth is hindered for various life stages of Mid-Atlantic Species

pH range at which mortality occurs for various life stages of Mid-Atlantic Species

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Changes in the Mid-Atlantic

Converting ocean acidification data into insights about the species living in our water.

Species impact

Marine phytoplankton are microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that form the foundation of the ocean's food web and produce over half of Earth's oxygen.

Marine Phytoplankton

Deep-sea corals are cold-water ecosystems that thrive without sunlight, providing vital habitats for diverse marine species.

Deep-Sea Corals

Finfish (any fish with a fin versus a shell) are a diverse group of fish species essential for marine ecosystems and a vital resource for global fisheries and aquaculture.

Finfish

SAV, comprising attached macroalgae and seagrass species, support coastal ecosystems by providing habitat, improving water quality, and buffering against climate change impacts.

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)

Our crustacean species are ecologically important, and critical to the economy of the Mid-Atlantic.

Crustaceans

Mollusks are a varied group of soft-bodied animals, many of which have hard shells. They are essential to both marine ecosystems and human economies.

Mollusks

Zooplankton are tiny drifting animals that play a critical role in aquatic food webs, linking phytoplankton to larger marine species.

Zooplankton

Ecosystems are highly complex webs of species that mix in space and time, creating intricate relationships that can be difficult or complex to study.

Ecosystems

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Species Impact

Explore changes in the mid-atlantic storymap

Our storymap explains that and so much more.

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Conditions that are expected to cause high mortality rates or reduced growth

Conditions that were proven to be harmful to organisms in laboratory studies

The red lines represent the conditions that are expected to cause high mortality rates or reduced growth for a given species. The blue and teal points or ranges show the experimental conditions that were proven to be harmful to organisms in laboratory studies. Some species have shown negative responses to low pH and/or aragonite saturation, such as reduced reproductive rates, reduced growth rates, and death. The range of conditions that caused biological impacts varies across species and did not always result in mortality. The red line indicates where adverse effects were lethal and caused mortality. There are also numerous studies that have found neutral or positive effects of acidification on certain species, although this graphic does not focus on them.

How to Use These Graphics

Understanding the Graphic Elements

Use the graphics to locate a particular species. To determine where low pH or aragonite saturation state may impact a particular or multiple species, one needs to know what the environmental condition is in the habitat where the species is found. For example, American Lobster larval mortality may begin at a pH of 7.7, whereas juvenile mortality may begin at pH 7.8. Growth of the American Lobster can also be hindered by pH and/or aragonite saturation state.

Applying the Graphics to Species and Environmental Conditions

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For reference, the average pH for estuaries and the open ocean are included to show “ideal” natural conditions. Estuarine pH is naturally lower than open ocean conditions and can vary greatly over space and time. Many estuarine species are normally exposed to, and tolerant of, lower pH conditions than those in the open ocean and may be more resistant to these lethal conditions. Many species only spend a small portion of their many life stages in estuarine habitats then move to the open ocean, and vice versa.

ph Levels for Natural Conditions

Global Carbon Cycle

The aragonite saturation state reference line in the shellfish graphics represents a value of 1. At, or below this value, aragonite minerals in shells and skeletons may dissolve. Above this value is considered to be sufficient for most species to survive. Below a value of 3 is when stressful conditions for animals have been shown to begin to occur in some species.

Interpreting Aragonite Saturation State

Test

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Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

There are a variety of student-led investigations and opportunities for data analysis. This allows students to practice valuable inquiry skills, transferable to many types of scientific investigations. This curriculum is geared toward high school students, with tools for differentiation embedded in each unit. 

This curriculum provides an in-depth exploration of coastal and ocean acidification (COA). It begins with the carbon cycle and underlying causes of ocean acidification, considers how these initial changes in atmosphere lead to changes in ocean water quality, and investigates the results of these changes on  Mid-Atlantic marine species and coastal habitats. 

Curriculum Scope and Learning Focus

While in certain electives, a teacher may wish to use this series of lessons in its entirety, we recognize that curricular restraints may only allow a teacher to use a few of these lessons in core science classes. This will work. Please refer to the table of contents and summaries below, to determine which lessons are most useful in your classroom!

This curriculum was developed by teachers and informal educators with the contributions of experts in this scientific field. Thus it includes complete, modifiable lesson plans, slide presentations, student worksheets and answer keys, complete and accessible supply lists, and more. 

Classroom-Ready and Flexible Design

Coastal Acidification

This section introduces the curriculum and key concepts in ocean acidification through background reading and short videos. It <a href="/">includes</a> NGSS-aligned questions and transcripts that can be used in class or for flipped learning.

Curriculum Overview, MACAN Coastal and Ocean Acidification videos

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Students learn how carbon moves through Earth’s systems and how emissions affect atmospheric CO₂. An interactive game helps reinforce sources and sinks through hands-on participation.

The Carbon Cycle Game and CO₂ Sources and Sinks

Curriculum Overview

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Contact Us

View Macan's 2024-2028 Work plan

If you are interested in learning more about MACAN and the work we do, please sign up for our <a href="/subscribe/">monthly newsletter</a>. You can also read our <a href="https://cms.midacan.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MACAN-5-Year-Workplan-2024-2028.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2024 to 2028 Work Plan</a>.

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About Us

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MACAN’s committed to understanding, predicting, and mitigating the impact of acidification on our oceans and coastal ecosystems.

A collaborative team committed to addressing the pressing environmental issue of coastal acidification in our region.

What is Acidification

Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide drives ocean acidification, lowering pH.

Diverse monitoring addresses complex coastal and estuarine acidification drivers.

Factors such as geography, climate, and human activities vary across different regions, impacting the extent and rate of ocean acidification.

Ocean acidification is driven by excess global carbon dioxide and water pollution from land runoff, and there are ways communities can help.

Converting ocean acidification data into insights about the species living in our water.

Ocean acidification changes water chemistry in ways that can hinder how marine species grow, reproduce, and survive.

Microscopic marine plants that form the base of ocean food webs.

Blue crabs are crucial to Mid-Atlantic ecology and economy.

Gorgonian sea fans and bamboo corals create vital deep-sea habitats.

A diverse group of animals vital to fisheries.

Mid-Atlantic finfish are essential to marine ecosystems and economies alike.

Vital food web organisms with varying responses.