Blue mussels in pH 7.1 seawater for 44 days had reduced shell growth, and those in pH 6.8 virtually stopped growing. In less acidified water—pH 7.4 or 7.6—shell growth was not significantly reduced.

Blue mussels in acidified seawater for 32 days had suppressed immune responses. (Laboratory study)

Normally, common periwinkles produce thicker shells in the presence of crab predators. This study found that they did not do so when living in acidified seawater for 15 days. The snails apparently compensated for their lack of defensive shell-building by moving more to avoid the crabs. In a ...

This study used Earth system models to examine how four of the major stressors of ocean ecosystems—warming, acidification, deoxygenation, and changes in primary productivity—may evolve over the 21st century.

Health of Atlantic halibut may be affected by moderate ocean acidification—by itself and combined with warmer temperatures.

Calcification rate of pteropods dropped 28 percent at pH levels projected for 2100. This result supports the concern for the future of pteropods in a high-CO2 world, as well as of those species dependent upon them as a food resource. (Laboratory study)

When larvae of Mediterranean pteropods were cultured in pH 7.82 water, they had malformations and less shell growth. At pH 7.51, the larvae did not make shells but survived and showed normal development. In a natural setting, the smaller shells or lack of shells would have both ecological and biogeochemical ...

Ocean acidification conditions interfered with the chemoreception, or "smelling", that hermit crabs use to find shells and prey. The hermit crabs moved less, had lower flicking rates of their antennae (a ‘sniffing’ behavior in decapods), and were less successful in locating the odor source. (Laboratory study)

Hermit crabs living in highly acidified seawater (pH 6.8) were less likely to leave a suboptimal shell in favor of an optimal shell. Those that did change shells took longer to do so. Crabs in acidified water also moved less and had lower flicking rates of their antennae (a ‘sniffing’ ...

For three ecologically important estuarine fish species—inland silverside, Atlantic silverside, and sheepshead minnow—the early life stages were more sensitive to low oxygen than they were to low pH. The combination of low oxygen and low pH had the biggest effect. The results suggest that ocean acidification and hypoxia may reduce ...