Citizen Scientists Join the Fight Against Ocean Acidification: Tide Pools Reveal Climate Change's Impact on Marine Life

The Fight Against Ocean Acidification: What Tide Pools Can Tell Us About Climate Change

How Citizen Scientists Are Helping Track the Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Marine Life

San Diego, CA – February 15, 2025– Ocean acidification, often called the "hidden crisis of climate change," is rapidly altering marine ecosystems worldwide. As carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the atmosphere continue to rise, the ocean absorbs excess CO₂, causing a decrease in pH levels. This acidification threatens marine biodiversity, particularly species that rely on calcium carbonate to build shells and skeletons, such as corals, shellfish, and certain types of plankton.

While the impacts of ocean acidification are most frequently studied in deep-sea environments, an unexpected frontline in this battle exists much closer to shore—in tide pools. These shallow coastal habitats, exposed to air and seawater fluctuations, provide a natural laboratory for studying the effects of changing pH levels on marine life.

Through its Tide Pool Bioblitz Program, Ocean Sanctuaries is enlisting citizen scientists, divers, and marine biologists to monitor the effects of ocean acidification in coastal ecosystems. By collecting real-time data on species diversity, shell deterioration, and water chemistry, these volunteers are helping scientists understand how climate change is reshaping marine life along our coasts.

"Tide pools are an early warning system for ocean health," said marine biologist and Ocean Sanctuaries advisor. "Because they experience dramatic shifts in pH and temperature daily, they provide a glimpse into how marine organisms will respond to long-term climate change."

Understanding Ocean Acidification: The Science Behind It

Ocean acidification occurs when excess CO₂ dissolves into seawater, triggering chemical reactions that:

1. Lower the pH of seawater, making it more acidic.
2. Reduce carbonate ion availability, which marine organisms need to build shells and skeletons.
3. Weaken the structure of corals, mollusks, and other calcifying species, making them more vulnerable to predation and environmental stress.

Scientists estimate that the ocean has become about 30 percent more acidic since the start of the Industrial Revolution, and projections suggest it could be 150 percent more acidic by 2100 if carbon emissions continue unchecked.

"The acidification of our oceans is happening at an unprecedented rate," said [Climate Scientist Name]. "Unlike past changes in ocean chemistry that occurred over thousands of years, we are now seeing major shifts within just decades."

Why Tide Pools Are Crucial for Studying Climate Change

Tide pools, which form in rocky coastal areas and are filled with seawater during high tide, experience natural fluctuations in pH, temperature, and salinity. These fluctuations make them ideal testing grounds for understanding how marine life will adapt—or struggle—to cope with long-term acidification and warming trends.

Key Reasons Tide Pools Are Climate Change Indicators:

• High Natural Variability – pH levels in tide pools can fluctuate dramatically over a single day due to photosynthesis, respiration, and wave action. This variability mimics the future ocean conditions expected under continued CO₂ emissions.
• Shell Dissolution Monitoring – Many tide pool species, such as snails, limpets, and barnacles, rely on calcium carbonate to form their protective shells. By tracking shell thickness and structural integrity, scientists can assess how acidification is affecting marine calcifiers.
• Species Shifts and Adaptations – Tide pool ecosystems are home to a diverse range of marine life, including urchins, crabs, anemones, sea stars, and algae. Some species may thrive in more acidic conditions, while others may disappear entirely.

What Citizen Scientists Are Observing:

• Thinning and weakened shells in mollusks and crustaceans.
• A decline in pH-sensitive species, such as coralline algae and certain snails.
• An increase in acid-resistant species, such as some seaweed varieties.
• Changes in predator-prey dynamics, with sea stars and urchins potentially gaining advantages over shelled organisms.

"If we see entire populations of tide pool organisms struggling to survive, it could foreshadow what’s to come in the open ocean," said [Marine Ecologist Name]. "This makes our work in tide pools more important than ever."

The Role of Citizen Science in Ocean Acidification Research

Given the vastness of the world’s oceans, scientists alone cannot track acidification trends everywhere. This is where citizen scientists step in, providing crucial, real-time data from local shorelines.

How Citizen Scientists Are Contributing:

1. Water Sampling and pH Testing – Volunteers use handheld pH meters to measure seawater acidity in different tide pools and compare readings over time.
2. Shell Condition Surveys – Citizen scientists collect data on the thickness and integrity of mollusk shells, helping researchers track signs of shell weakening.
3. Biodiversity Monitoring – By photographing and logging tide pool species in iNaturalist, participants help document shifts in species populations linked to acidification.
4. Temperature and Salinity Readings – Fluctuations in these factors can exacerbate acidification impacts and contribute to local extinctions of sensitive species.

Since launching its Tide Pool Bioblitz Program, Ocean Sanctuaries has:

• Collected over 10,000 species observations from coastal tide pools.
• Recorded pH shifts of up to 0.3 units in some tide pools over the last decade.
• Noted declining populations of key species, including certain snails and calcifying algae.
• Published citizen science data in peer-reviewed research, aiding global ocean conservation efforts.

The Future of Ocean Acidification Research and Conservation

While reducing carbon emissions is the only way to stop ocean acidification at its source, ongoing monitoring and mitigation efforts are essential to protecting vulnerable species.

Proposed Solutions for Combating Ocean Acidification:

• Restoring Kelp Forests and Seagrass Beds – These marine plants naturally absorb CO₂ and help buffer against acidification.
• Implementing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – Creating safe havens for marine life to adapt without additional stressors like overfishing.
• Supporting Carbon Reduction Policies – Advocating for policies that cut fossil fuel emissions and limit industrial pollution.
• Educating the Public – Encouraging awareness and participation in conservation initiatives.

"Citizen science is playing a crucial role in shaping our response to ocean acidification," said Environmental Policy Expert. "The more data we collect, the better we can advocate for strong conservation policies."

How to Get Involved

Ocean Sanctuaries invites anyone with a passion for marine conservation to join the fight against ocean acidification. You don’t need to be a scientist—just a willingness to learn and explore.

Ways to Participate:

1. Join a Tide Pool Bioblitz – Attend an upcoming survey and help document marine life.
2. Become a Water Quality Tester – Learn how to measure pH and salinity at local tide pools.
3. Photograph and Log Observations – Upload findings to iNaturalist for scientific use.
4. Advocate for Ocean Conservation – Support policies that reduce carbon emissions and protect marine ecosystems.

About Ocean Sanctuaries

Ocean Sanctuaries is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering citizen scientists to protect marine ecosystems. Through education, outreach, and hands-on research projects, the organization fosters a global community of ocean advocates working to preserve the world’s oceans for future generations.

Media Contact