Ocean acidification a danger to sharks' teeth
The climate crisis may be posing an existential threat to many species of shark. A new study has revealed that the acidification of the world's oceans is causing sharks' teeth to decay. It is well known in the scientific community that increasing ocean acidity is damaging calcified species like corals, molluscs, and sea urchins. This led marine biologists to research whether shark teeth are at similar risk. Lead author of the study, Maximilian Baum, investigated whether "sharks that swim with their mouths open to ventilate their gills and have constant seawater exposure might also be vulnerable". He concluded that "even the teeth of apex predators show visible damage under acidified conditions". |