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Numerous studies have classified the effects of ocean acidification on development and shell growth, but less studied are the effects of acidification on oyster physiology and the potential mechanisms that may enable vulnerable larvae to survive and adapt. Research described in this article was designed to understand the impacts of ocean acidification on the eastern oyster. Specifically, the study assessed the effects of acidification on survival, growth and metabolic rates of oyster larvae. In addition, the study began to identify the processes that may enable survival by first assessing whether food availability enhances resilience of these early life stages. These questions are particularly important because a decrease in survival and size of larvae can significantly impact the commercial industry as a result of decreased yield. Studying metabolic rates is vital to understanding the health of an organism as it can indicate whether an animal is under stress or has high energetic demands that must be met with high food availability.