US EditionSharks may be losing deadly teeth to ocean acidification
Researchers at Heinrich Heine University found shark teeth exposed to predicted 2300 ocean acidity levels showed 50% more corrosion, threatening sharks' hunting abilities and marine ecosystems.
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf scientists reported August 27, 2025, that rising ocean acidity corrodes blacktip reef shark teeth, making them weaker and more brittle, the Frontiers in Marine Science study shows.
- As carbon dioxide rises, scientists say ocean acidification occurs as seas absorb human-generated CO2, lowering pH from the current average of 8.1 to a projected 7.3 by 2300, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
- Using over 600 shed samples from Sea Life Oberhausen, the team incubated 16 intact teeth for eight weeks at pH 8.1 and 7.3, then used scanning electron microscopy to assess damage.
- Microscopic damage could reduce sharks' feeding efficiency and digestion, and Professor Sebastian Fraune warned that `In living sharks, the situation may be more complex. They could potentially remineralize or replace damaged teeth faster, but the energy costs of this would probably be higher in acidified waters.'
- Baum and colleagues caution that initial results from non-living teeth highlight urgency for global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and recommend live-animal studies to assess ecosystem impacts.
39 Articles
39 Articles
A study by the University of Dusseldorf shows that ocean acidification damages sharks' teeth and their ability to regenerate. With negative consequences on the entire marine ecosystem
The South German headlines: "Climate change makes sharks toothless." And the quality medium ORF announced in Ö1 as well as via ORF Science: "Ocean: Acidification of the seas attacks shark teeth." What does not emerge from the dramatic titles: The source is a German climate study by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Fraune and colleagues, which locates possible problems for shark teeth in 2300. This, of course, justifies absurd reports that sound brand-new – o…
The acidification of the oceans makes predatory fish teeth brittle. A new study shows dramatic consequences for black-tip reef sharks. Is this threatening for the marine predators?
Climate change seems to have a direct impact on sharks' bite power. Biologists from Heinrich-Heine University have found this. They took the samples for the study in sharks from Oberhausen.
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