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)

Increasingly acidic ocean water makes building shells more difficult.

Fossil fuel spills in the ocean prevent oysters from building shells.

Lower carbon levels mean that oysters do not have enough materials to build shells.

Higher levels of ozone in the ocean keep oysters from building shells.

Answer 1

Increasingly acidic ocean water makes building shells more difficult.

Burning fossil fuels raises atmospheric CO2, which dissolves in seawater and lowers pH (ocean acidification), reducing carbonate ions needed for oysters to form calcium carbonate shells.