b'SURFACE WATERNational TreasureTyburczy\'s current research is in Humboldt Bay, aOne of the most compelling reasons to shallow, highly protected estuary that is home to astudy eelgrass is to learn how natural $10 million oyster fishery, a wild salmon industry andsystems may help mitigate rising at least one-third of California\'s eelgrass. In fact, 4,700acidification in the oceans, according to Joe acres (19 km 2 ) of the bay\'s 15,400 acres (62.4 km 2 ) areTyburczy, a marine ecologist with California covered with eelgrass beds. Humboldt Bay looks like aSea Grant Extension. And one of the most pair of lungs, with a windpipe poking through a thickstriking things about understanding the sandbar into the Pacific Ocean.link betweendissolved carbon dioxide It\'s a sheltered estuary with broad shallowsa perfectand acidification is that you can prove this place to be an oyster or an eelgrass plant. In turn,relationship to yourself in your own kitchen.eelgrass is a great indicator of changes in healthy but sensitive environments. The list of changes that canCoarsely chop half a cause eelgrass to die off is a long one.head of red cabbage and put it in a pot with There\'s the movement of sediment that can clogjust enough water to tidal channels or change the elevation of thecover the leaves. intertidal zone. Excess nutrients. Turbid water. Rising temperatures. Falling oxygen levels. Bring the water to a boil, cover the pot, "Because it is such a sensitive species, it\'s anturn off the heat and indicator species, a canary in a coal mine, a goodlet it cool.species to keep an eye on in terms of monitoring the health of the bay," Tyburczy says. Meanwhile, pour fresh water into a pair of clear glasses. Insert a drinking straw into one of the glasses and blow into the straw for a minute or two to inject carbon dioxide into the water.Place the glasseson a piece of whitepaper and strainsome cabbage water into each one. The water that contains the higher level of CO2 will turn pinkeran indication of higher aciditythan the undisturbed water."This demonstration is really fundamental," Tyburczy emphasizes. "This is a real, undeniable chemical change that is happening in our oceans and it is caused directly by carbon dioxide. It doesn\'t require you to believe fancy climate models. It just requires you to believe chemistry you can demonstrate in your kitchen at home."41'