Acidification Threatens the Teeth of Ocean's Apex Predators: The Sharks

Fri Jan 16 2026 16:06:28 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A new study reveals that ocean acidification, driven by human activities, poses a risk to shark teeth integrity, potentially impacting their role in marine ecosystems.

Research from German scientists indicates that increasing ocean acidity, caused by climate change, might lead to the degradation of shark teeth. This could disrupt the ecological balance in marine environments, as sharks depend on their teeth to maintain population control of marine species. Despite their resilience over millions of years, the implications of ocean acidification present new challenges to these apex predators.

PORTLAND, Maine — Sharks, long revered as the formidable predators of the seas, face a new threat: the integrity of their vital teeth. A groundbreaking study by German scientists highlights how the ocean's increasing acidity — largely due to human-induced carbon emissions — could jeopardize sharks' teeth, a critical tool for their survival.

The scientists conducted their research in response to the alarming trend of ocean acidification, which occurs when the oceans absorb excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Their findings suggest that as the seas become more acidic, the structural quality of shark teeth may decline, increasing the likelihood of teeth breaking and thus threatening their predatory advantage in the marine food chain.

Maximilian Baum, the study's lead author and marine biologist at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, warned, The corrosion effect on sharks' teeth signals a potential disruption in their ecological success as apex predators. Their dominance in the ocean could be in peril if this trend continues. While it won't lead to toothless sharks overnight, this gradual change poses a serious long-term risk.

Published in Frontiers in Marine Science, the study is part of a growing focus among conservation scientists on ocean acidification. The NOAA projects that by the year 2300, ocean acidity levels could be nearly tenfold what they are today. The researchers analyzed over 600 discarded teeth from blacktip reef sharks and exposed them to current and projected future acidity levels. The results were alarming: teeth in more acidic water exhibited significant damage including cracks, holes, and corrosive deterioration.

Shark teeth, which are uniquely evolved for slicing through flesh rather than withstanding acidic conditions, must regenerate thousands of times over a shark's lifetime, playing a key role in controlling marine populations. However, over a third of shark species are currently facing the threat of extinction, primarily due to activities like overfishing.

Experts like Nick Whitney, senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, note that while sharks have survived numerous environmental shifts in their 400-million-year existence, ocean acidification poses new challenges. Though this might be a threat, overfishing remains the foremost danger to sharks,” Whitney added.

As various marine species, especially those with calcium carbonate structures like shellfish, begin to struggle for survival in more acidic waters, sharks may face unintended consequences due to a potential collapse of their prey populations.

In conclusion, while sharks have historically adapted to changing conditions, ocean acidification could represent a significant evolutionary challenge. Conservation efforts are now more crucial than ever to ensure the continued survival of these vital marine predators.