Hands-On Exploration of Ocean Acidification with a Living Calcifier

• Published in: The American Biology Teacher
• Main Authors: Seveyka, Jerred, Cousins, Katherine
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: University of California Press 2021
• Subjects: General Agricultural and Biological Sciences; Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous); Education; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/abt.2021.83.5.325; http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/83/5/325/464739/abt.2021.83.5.325.pdf

This hands-on lab allows students to explore concepts and quantify effects of ocean acidification. Many laboratory activities simplify ocean acidification through computer simulations or dripping acid on nonliving materials (e.g., sea shells) but do not provide adequate opportunities for students to measure, inquire, or see real consequences for living organisms. Thus, we developed this low-cost, easily accessible experiment to imitate ocean acidification on living, calcifying organisms.