Phytoplankton are microscopic marine plants that form the base of ocean food webs. Acidification may have varied effects, both positive and negative, on different species.

Crustaceans like blue crabs are crucial to Mid-Atlantic ecology and economy, but young life-stages are vulnerable to acidification.

Corals like gorgonian sea fans and bamboo corals create vital deep-sea habitats; acidification impacts are still unclear, but are expected to be adverse.

Mollusks are a diverse group of animals vital to fisheries; shelled mollusks like clams and oysters are particularly vulnerable to the effects of acidification.

Ecosystems are highly complex webs of species that mix in space and time, creating intricate relationships and feedback loops that are difficult to study, regardless of changes in acidification.

Mid-Atlantic finfish are essential to marine ecosystems and economies alike; while research is ongoing, current findings suggest some species may be sensitive to acidification, especially during early life stages.

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), including eelgrass, provide vital coastal habitat. SAV may benefit from increasing CO₂ and even locally elevate pH, but SAV species still face other climate and human-caused threats.

Zooplankton are vital food web organisms; their responses to acidification vary, impacting marine ecosystems unpredictably.