Question

a fisherman collecting shellfish notices that many of them have holes or jagged edges around their shells. which statement best explains what may have caused the holes and jagged edges of the shells?
coral bleaching
ocean warming
invasive species
ocean acidification

Explanation:

Ocean acidification reduces carbonate ions in seawater. Shell - forming organisms like shellfish struggle to build and maintain their shells, leading to holes and jagged edges as the acid in the water dissolves their calcium - carbonate shells. Coral bleaching affects corals, ocean warming has broader ecological impacts not directly causing shell damage like this, and invasive species typically out - compete or prey on others rather than directly causing such shell degradation.

Answer:

D. Ocean acidification