New ocean acidification research published in late April shows a strong correlation between current ocean conditions and the dissolution of sea butterfly shells. Sea butterflies–or pteropods–play an important role in the marine food web, providing a food source for higher-level predators like salmon. The study focuses on the California Current, which stretches along the entire west coast of the United States and is a key driver of how our nearby marine ecosystems take shape and function. The research was conducted by a team of scientist, led by NOAA research fellow Nina Bednarsek and affiliate oceanography professor Richard Feely.

Read more in the Seattle Times, which includes commentary from Jan Newton, co-director of the Washington Ocean Acidification Center at the College of the Environment.