Hot and Sour: How Ocean Warming and Acidification Affects Marine Organisms
Part of Educators
Part of Educators
Join us for a special evening for educators with Leanne Melbourne, Kathryn W. Davis postdoctoral scholar in the Museum’s Master of Arts in Teaching Earth science residency program, in the Museum’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Oysters, mussels, corals, and coralline algae are important organisms in marine ecosystems. They form habitats that support biodiversity. Some improve the water quality through filtration, while others can act as storm defenses protecting our coastlines. These important functions require a stable 3D structure. However, rising CO2 levels dramatically altering our oceans through warming and acidification will put these marine organisms under intense stress, making it harder for them to maintain their 3D structure. This talk will focus on ways in which Museum collections and engineering approaches are used to assess how ocean warming and acidification affect the growth, shape, and, ultimately, function, of these organisms.