Blog Post Image: Coral Reefs in Palau Surprisingly Resistant to Naturally Acidified Waters

The Rock Islands of Palau are like a maze with lots of channels and inlets for the water to wind around. The water sits in the bays for a long time before being flushed out, becoming more and more acidic. Organisms living in the water are changing the water’s chemistry as they build their shells and breath carbon dioxide into the water. “It’s a little bit like being stuck in a room with a limited amount of oxygen – the longer you’re in there without opening a window, you’re using up oxygen and increasing CO2,” explains Shamberger. (Photo by Pat Lohmann, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)