Impacts on Marine Species and Ecosystems

Warming sea temperatures and changing ocean chemistry triggered by climate change are likely to impact marine environments in the following ways:

• Ocean acidification causes coral bleaching and loss of coral habitats for coral-associated species.
• Ocean acidification will impair many shell building organisms.
• Disruptions in marine food chain causing marine extinctions.
• Loss of important coastal nursery areas/habitats (i.e., mangroves, salt marsh).