Question
A scientist observes that the shells of oysters this year are thinner than the shells of oysters several years ago. How could this trend be related to the use of fossil fuels?(1 point)
Responses
Fossil fuel spills in the ocean prevent oysters from building shells.
Fossil fuel spills in the ocean prevent oysters from building shells.
Increasingly acidic ocean water makes building shells more difficult.
Increasingly acidic ocean water makes building shells more difficult.
Higher levels of ozone in the ocean keep oysters from building shells.
Higher levels of ozone in the ocean keep oysters from building shells.
Lower carbon levels mean that oysters do not have enough materials to build shells.
Responses
Fossil fuel spills in the ocean prevent oysters from building shells.
Fossil fuel spills in the ocean prevent oysters from building shells.
Increasingly acidic ocean water makes building shells more difficult.
Increasingly acidic ocean water makes building shells more difficult.
Higher levels of ozone in the ocean keep oysters from building shells.
Higher levels of ozone in the ocean keep oysters from building shells.
Lower carbon levels mean that oysters do not have enough materials to build shells.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The trend of thinner oyster shells could be related to the use of fossil fuels through the mechanism of increasingly acidic ocean water. When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. This CO2 can be absorbed by ocean water, leading to ocean acidification. Acidic conditions make it more difficult for marine organisms like oysters to extract the calcium carbonate necessary to build their shells, resulting in thinner shells over time.
Thus, the appropriate response is:
**Increasingly acidic ocean water makes building shells more difficult.**
Thus, the appropriate response is:
**Increasingly acidic ocean water makes building shells more difficult.**