Our Acidifying Ocean
Name:
Part I
1. What atmospheric gas is contributing to the acidification of the earth’s oceans?
2. The data from Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii shows an increase in co2 level between the years
1958-2008. Why does the blue line have oscillations?
3. What is the pH of ocean water?
4. Explain why you agree or disagree that the oceans are becoming acidic?
5. What compound do calcifiers use to build their calcium carbonate shells?
6. List three calcifiers and three non calcifiers that live in the ocean.
7. Describe the chemical processes which contribute to the lowering of the pH in oceans?
8. Why does an adult sea urchin need a test for protection and the juvenile does not?
9. Write you hypothesis to test how acidification might impact the sea urchin larval stage.
Part II
1. Sketch the sea urchin embryo after using the microscope to view it.
2. Why did you choose to test pH8.1 and 7.7 as your two experimental treatment levels?
3. Why was CO2 added to the marine water sample?
Record your data
pH 7.7
um
Replicate A
Replicate B
Replicate C
Average
pH 8.1
Replicate A
Replicate B
Replicate C
Average
1. Copy and paste your bar graph
2. What is the standard deviation important to use in your analysis?
3. Conclusion: What effect does a lowering of the pH of oceans have on sea urchin populations? Marine
food webs?