Ocean acidification is of increasing concern as a possibly major environmental consequence of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. One way of investigating the likely impact is to determine the effect the process has had on marine organisms over the past 150 years, during which time ocean pH levels have decreased in concert with rising atmospheric CO2.
As a contribution to the UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme this website summarises a survey of potentially useful collections in the Natural History Museum and other British institutions.
It provides a summary of collections of marine biocalcifying organisms with known collection date and location, collected prior to 1965 and ideally pre-1900. We have also included some important collections of more recent material, particularly if they have comprehensive associated data.
It is intended to facilitate access to these collections by researchers in the field, by:
- summarising what material is available
- providing links to more detailed databases and collection summaries
- giving contacts for collections access
Natural History Museum, More information.
