Acidic water hinders corals' ability to build a .

Acidic water hinders corals' ability to build a skeleton.

Step 1: Understanding the Problem Corals are marine invertebrates that build external skeletons of calcium carbonate. Acidic water can interfere with this process.

Step 2: Acidic Water and Coral Skeletons When the pH of water drops, making it more acidic, it can reduce the amount of available carbonate ions in the water. Carbonate ions are crucial for corals as they use these ions to build their calcium carbonate skeletons.

Step 3: The Impact of Acidic Water With fewer carbonate ions available in acidic water, corals struggle to maintain their skeletons, which can lead to slower growth rates and weaker structures. This can make them more susceptible to damage from storms, disease, and other stressors.

Step 4: The Bigger Picture This is a significant concern as ocean acidification is increasing due to higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is a major threat to coral reefs worldwide.