Is Ocean Acidification Already Affecting Pearl Producing Mulloscs?

[J Marcus]

~Ocean Acidification Hits Great Barrier Reef~

Yes, this is a repeat of my latest posting in the "Green Pearl..." thread. I have also put it in it's own thread because of the probable importance of this bit of news. To my knowledge it is the first direct, measurable evidence that the process of Ocean Acidification has quite likely already started to damage the oceans shelly organisms. This process is happening, as I have stated previously, at a rate of speed that outstrips any of the worst case scenarios developed by scientists since the CO2 problem was recognised. Read this article at:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=...sc=emailfriend

In an article dated January 1, 2009, an article in the well known and respected magazine Scientific American, title above, it is noted that the growth of corals in the Great Barrier Reef has slowed significantly. As stated in this article, the most likely suspect is Ocean Acidification. I think that at this point the question must be asked--Has Ocean Acidification already begun to affect/damage the growth and production of saltwater pearls? I believe that this news points out the urgency of addressing this oncoming environmental train wreck. It is not something approaching in the uncertain future. The problems have already started to happen and, given the immensity of the problem, we have little time to turn things around.