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Mussels could soon be off the menu: Climate change may wipe out the shellfish as acid in oceans stops their shells forming

VICTORIA WOOLLASTON
Initial Publication Date: April 29, 2016

Summary

  • Mussel shells are made of calcium carbonate and organic material
  • They draw bicarbonate ions from seawater to build these shells Shellfish then use body proteins to make crystals of calcium carbonate
  • In more acidic water, there are fewer bicarbonate ions available for shells
  • This could make them more vulnerable to attack and could wipe them out
  • This effect, however, was reduced when the temperature of the water was increased by 2°C (35°F)
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2885290/Mussels-soon-menu-climate-change.html#ixzz3MvpGdJ67


Context for Use

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2885290/Mussels-soon-menu-climate-change.html

References and Resources

Citation

WOOLLASTON, V. (2014). Mussels could soon be off the menu: Climate change may wipe out the shellfish as acid in oceans stops their shells forming . http://www.camelclimatechange.org/view/casestudy/549c4a3c0cf2930e080f867e