The climate crisis may be posing an existential threat to many species shark. A new study has revealed that the acidification the world's oceans is causing sharks' teeth to decay. It is well known the scientific community that increasing ocean acidity is damaging calcified species corals, molluscs, and sea urchins. This led marine biologists to research whether shark teeth are at similar risk. Lead author the study, Maximilian Baum, investigated whether "sharks that swim their mouths open to ventilate their gills and have constant seawater exposure might also be vulnerable". He concluded that "even the teeth apex predators show visible damage acidified conditions".
Baum and his colleagues analyzed 42 teeth 10 blacktip reef sharks an aquarium in Germany. They placed the teeth in two separate water tanks eight weeks. The salt water in one tank had a pH level 8.2, which is similar to current ocean averages. The water the other tank was more acidic, a pH level of 7.3. Baum found that the teeth the more acidic water had "visible surface damage". This included cracks and cavities, increased root decay, and structural deterioration. He said ongoing damage could impact how sharks feed the future. Such damage could potentially trigger "domino effects" the health many marine ecosystems.
