The Dungeness crab is vital to commercial fisheries in the Pacific Northwest, but lower pH levels in its habitat are dissolving parts of its shell and damaging its sensory organs, a new study found.

The damage to the crabs is premature: The acidity wasn't predicted to damage the crabs this quickly. "If the crabs are affected already, we really need to make sure we pay much more attention to various components of the food chain before it is too late." Read more ...