Estuarine waters are more susceptible to acidification because they are subject to multiple acid sources and are less buffered than marine waters. Consequently, estuarine shell-forming species may experience acidification sooner than marine species although, the tolerance of estuarine calcifiers to pH changes is poorly understood. This study analyzed 23 years ...

The immune responses of grazing isopods (Idotea balthica) in the Baltic Sea dropped by 60 to 80 percent after the isopods were placed in ocean acidification conditions for 20 days. In addition, isopods from a low salinity site, where their health was already compromised, suffered 100 percent mortality when placed ...

This study analyzed changes in phytoplankton and zooplankton on the Newfoundland and Scotian shelves from 1962 to 2003 in relation to changes in oceanography. Three categories of phytoplankton (color, diatoms, dinoflagellates) increased in abundance in the 1990s, and these increases generally persisted into 2001–2003. This is believed to be a ...

This study analyzed thermohaline dynamics of the Gulf of Maine based on data published in 1968. It describes six water masses: Maine Surface Water, Maine Intermediate Water, and Maine Bottom Water as interior water masses; and Scotian Shelf Water, Slope Water, and Georges Bank Water as exterior water masses. ...

The carbonate system of the Baltic Sea is strongly influenced by the input of low salinity waters during spring and summer originating from the Bothnian Sea, the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Riga as well as by the input of high salinity waters during autumn and winter originating ...

The Gulf of Maine's unusual geography and oceanography make it distinct from other continental shelf ecosystems. It has deep basins, shallow offshore banks that limit water flow between the Gulf and the open Atlantic Ocean, strong tidal mixing of it shallower waters, and a seasonal cycle of intense winter cooling, ...

This article provides an overview of how rivers, which tend to be acidic compared to the ocean, affect shellfish, with a focus on the Gulf of Maine.

For juvenile hard-shell clams, ocean acidification alone or in combination with low salinity reduced the hardness and fracture toughness of their shells. This may reduce protection against predators. Salinity should be taken into account when predicting the effects of ocean acidification on estuarine bivalves. (Laboratory study)

When juvenile oysters were exposed to ocean acidification and/or low salinity, they had greater mortality, less energy stored in their tissues, and loss of soft tissue indicating energy deficiency. Ocean acidification and low salinity also reduced the hardness and fracture resistance of their shells. (Laboratory study)

While ocean acidification may have some negative effects on the eggs of amphipods, exposure to low-salinity water is likely to affect the eggs more, based on ocean acidification trends projected for the next 300 years. (Laboratory study)