Climate Change Threatens
Marine Life
Govind Misra
The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is becoming a major cause for climate
change. It is affecting marine life along with human life on the earth.
Some marine organisms like corals, oysters, snails and sea urchins have shells. Fishes
like shrimps, crayfish and prawns have shells. On the other hand, a few marine
organisms like Octopus, frogs and sea slugs do not have shells. Fishes like catfish, hagfish
and lampreys also do not have shells.
These shells are the cover over their bodies. These are made up of " Calcium Carbonate ".
The atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves into sea/ ocean water and form " Carbonic
Acid". But within no time it breaks into " Hydrogen ions" and " carbonate ions". The
formation of hydrogen ions is more than the carbonate ions. The hydrogen ions have the
affinity to combine with the " Carbonate " present on the shells of the organisms and
fishes. But this time due to absence of water over the shells, " Hydrogen Bicarbonate " is
formed instead of carbonic acid. Now the shells present over these marine organisms are
unable to extract " Carbonate ions " from this newly formed chemical " Hydrogen
Bicarbonate ". As a result the carbonate ions present over the shells start decreasing and
subsequently the shells start depleting. Finally these shell creatures die over a period of
time. The large fishes present in the sea/ ocean depend mainly on these creatures
because they used to eat them in order to survive. So they also start dying resulting in the
devastating effects on the human beings ( mainly living on islands) as the fishes form the
major cuisine of their food. The bread and butter of fishermen also become standstill.
Marine Life
Govind Misra
The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is becoming a major cause for climate
change. It is affecting marine life along with human life on the earth.
Some marine organisms like corals, oysters, snails and sea urchins have shells. Fishes
like shrimps, crayfish and prawns have shells. On the other hand, a few marine
organisms like Octopus, frogs and sea slugs do not have shells. Fishes like catfish, hagfish
and lampreys also do not have shells.
These shells are the cover over their bodies. These are made up of " Calcium Carbonate ".
The atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves into sea/ ocean water and form " Carbonic
Acid". But within no time it breaks into " Hydrogen ions" and " carbonate ions". The
formation of hydrogen ions is more than the carbonate ions. The hydrogen ions have the
affinity to combine with the " Carbonate " present on the shells of the organisms and
fishes. But this time due to absence of water over the shells, " Hydrogen Bicarbonate " is
formed instead of carbonic acid. Now the shells present over these marine organisms are
unable to extract " Carbonate ions " from this newly formed chemical " Hydrogen
Bicarbonate ". As a result the carbonate ions present over the shells start decreasing and
subsequently the shells start depleting. Finally these shell creatures die over a period of
time. The large fishes present in the sea/ ocean depend mainly on these creatures
because they used to eat them in order to survive. So they also start dying resulting in the
devastating effects on the human beings ( mainly living on islands) as the fishes form the
major cuisine of their food. The bread and butter of fishermen also become standstill.
