Ocean Acidification is having a negative effect on animals such as clams, mussels, snails, and crabs. All of these animals create their own shells out of calcium, in a process called calcification. These calciferous shells are easily broken down, and will dissolve in acid very quickly. If carbon emissions continue to persist at rampant rates, and the ocean continues to grow more acidic, these kinds of invertebrates will not be able to survive.
See for yourself in this home experiment
- Empty shells from the beach (make sure these are empty and do not have living animals in them)
- 3 clear containers/glasses
1. Fill one container halfway with fresh water, one with salt water and one with vinegar. There should be enough solution in the container to completely submerge the shell.
Before you begin the experiment, make some observations about the shells. Record their colour, shape, texture, and durability (are they hard or flexible). You may wish to take pictures of the shells to help remember your observations.
At the same time, place one shell in each of the glasses. Leave the shells undisturbed for one hour, then record observations from each of the containers.
Leave the shells in the containers overnight (approximately 12 hours) and record observations again from each of the samples.
Leave the shells again until 24 hours have passed since the start of the experiment. Take your observations again, this time removing the shells from their containers. What do you notice now about the shells in each of the containers?
- Are there any bubbles in the water
- Has there been any change to the colour of the shell
- Has there been any change to the shape of the shell.
- Has there been any change to the durability of the shell
1. How did the shell change during the 24 hours in the freshwater? In the salt water? In the vinegar?
2. How did the shell in the salt water (basic) compare to the shell in the vinegar (acidic)?
3. Why do clams and crabs have shells? What purpose to their serve for their survival?
3. How would the acidic solution affect a clam living in the ocean? What does a weakened shell mean for the clam?
Posted January 17, 2022 by Meighan Makarchuk
Kuongezeka kwa asidi baharini kunaathiri vibaya wanyama kama vile konokono, konokono, konokono, na kaa. Wanyama hao wote hutengeneza magamba yao wenyewe kwa kutumia kalsiamu, katika mchakato unaoitwa calcification. Makundi hayo ya chokaa huvunjika kwa urahisi, na huyeyuka haraka sana katika asidi. Ikiwa uzalishaji wa kaboni utaendelea kwa kiwango cha juu, na bahari itaendelea kuwa na asidi zaidi, aina hizi za wanyama wasio na uti wa mgongo hazitaweza kuishi. Kwa mfano, kama unafanya jaribio la nyumbani, angalia: Shells tupu kutoka pwani (hakikisha hizi ni tupu na hazina wanyama hai ndani yao) - 3 vyombo wazi au glasi. Jaza chupa moja kwa nusu kwa maji safi, nyingine kwa maji ya chumvi, na nyingine kwa siki. Inapaswa kuwa na suluhisho la kutosha katika chombo hicho ili kuzamisha kabisa ganda hilo. Kabla ya kuanza majaribio, tazama baadhi ya makombora hayo. Andika rangi yao, umbo, muundo, na uimara (je, wao ni ngumu au laini). Huenda ukataka kupiga picha za makombora ili ukumbuke mambo uliyochunguza. Wakati huohuo, weka kombe moja katika kila glasi. Acha makombora bila kusumbuliwa kwa saa moja, kisha rekodi uchunguzi kutoka kwa kila moja ya vyombo. Kuhifadhi shells katika chombo kwa usiku mmoja (kwa muda wa saa 12) na kurekodi tena uchunguzi kutoka kwa kila sampuli. Kuondoa shell kwa muda wa saa 24 baada ya kuanza kwa jaribio. Chukua uchunguzi wako tena, wakati huu kuondoa makombora kutoka vyombo vyao. Sasa unaona nini kuhusu makombora yaliyo katika kila chombo? - Je, kuna Bubbles katika maji? - Je, kuna mabadiliko yoyote ya rangi ya shell? - Je, kuna mabadiliko yoyote ya umbo la shell? - Je, kuna mabadiliko yoyote kwa uimara wa shell 1. Ni nini kilichotokea kwa shell wakati wa masaa 24 ya maji safi? Katika maji ya chumvi? Katika siki? 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Ni nini kilichotokea wakati magamba ya maji ya chumvi (maji ya msingi) yalipokuwa yakichanganywa na magamba ya siki (maji yenye asidi)? 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Kwa nini konokono na kaa zina makundi? Ni kusudi gani wanaloweza kutimiza ili waendelee kuishi? 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Suluhisho hilo la asidi lingeharibuje mnyama anayeishi baharini? Kamba iliyodhoofika inamaanisha nini kwa mnyama huyo? January 17, 2021 - Meagan Makarchuk