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)

Question

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

Answer 1

The best response that relates the trend of thinner oyster shells to the use of fossil fuels is:

Increasingly acidic ocean water makes building shells more difficult.

This is because the burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, which can lead to increased levels of CO2 being absorbed by the oceans. This process contributes to ocean acidification, making it harder for marine organisms like oysters to form their calcium carbonate shells.