Rising acidity in Earth’s oceans may cause shark teeth to corrode and degrade, new research warns. As apex predators, sharks rely on their teeth to catch and consume prey, yet a recent study suggests climate change is gradually weakening these crucial tools.
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“They’re highly developed weapons built for cutting flesh, not resisting ocean acid,” said Maximilian Baum, lead researcher from Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf (HHU). “Our results show just how vulnerable even nature’s sharpest weapons can be.”
Although sharks continually replace their teeth, the increasing acidity of the oceans could soon damage them faster than they can regenerate. Oceans absorb rising levels of carbon dioxide, causing pH levels to fall. Currently slightly alkaline at 8.1, ocean acidity could drop to as low as 7.3 by the year 2300.
Baum’s study, initially an undergraduate project and now published in Frontiers, examined the potential impact on marine life by testing hundreds of blacktip reef shark teeth collected from aquariums. Around 50 undamaged teeth were placed in tanks with water at different pH levels for eight weeks. The results were striking: teeth exposed to acidic conditions showed significantly more damage than those in water at a pH of 8.1.
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“We observed visible surface damage such as cracks and holes, increased root corrosion, and structural degradation,” explained Professor Sebastian Fraune, who supervised the project.
The study also found that acidic water roughened the teeth’s surfaces. While this might enhance cutting ability temporarily, it compromises the tooth’s structure, making them more susceptible to breakage.
“Maintaining ocean pH near the current average of 8.1 could be critical for the physical integrity of predators’ tools,” Baum added. “It’s a reminder that climate change impacts cascade through entire food webs and ecosystems.”
