The Impact of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems: A Synthesis of Biological and Chemical Perspectives

Sritaja Sirivolu

Abstract: Ocean acidification, driven by increased absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO²), alters marine chemistry and threatens coral reef ecosystems. This literature review synthesizes recent research (2012-2025) on four key impacts: coral bleaching events, disruption of coral-algae symbiosis, degradation of calcium carbonate saturation, and reef restoration and mitigation strategies. The current rate of ocean acidification is approximately ten times faster than anything experienced during the last 300 million years (IUCN). Studies show that the ability of ocean systems to adapt to changes in ocean chemistry due to CO² and warming waters lead to declining ocean pH and aragonite saturation, compromising coral skeletal formations via impaired calcification, which threatens metabolic function (EPA, 2025) and exacerbating bleaching due to thermal stress from global warming. Emerging interventions?such as selective breeding, localized alkalinity enhancement, coral gardening and marine protected areas?show potential. For instance, the transplantation of heat-tolerant coral species in the Great Barrier Reef has demonstrated increased resilience to bleaching. However, their effectiveness is limited by the efficiency of reduction in global CO² emissions. This synthesis highlights the urgency of interdisciplinary strategies to protect coral reefs in a changing ocean.

Keywords: Ocean acidification, Coral bleaching, Coral-Algae symbiosis, Coral calcification, Aragonite saturation, Restoration strategies

How to Cite?: Sritaja Sirivolu, "The Impact of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems: A Synthesis of Biological and Chemical Perspectives", Volume 14 Issue 10, October 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1241-1245, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251022195251, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251022195251