One of the known effects of acid rain is that it leaches calcium carbonate out of the soil. a study in a region that received significant amounts of acid rain showed that birds were laying eggs with highly porous shells. as a result, the bird population was declining. what is the most likely cause of the observed quality of egg shells? a) acid rain leaches out the calcium that is the most significant component of egg shells. b) the birds are unable to get calcium from the soil because the calcium has been leached out by the acid rain. c) the birds are unable to get calcium from the soil because the calcium has been consumed by the snails to secrete their shells. d) calcium deficiency was caused because snails in the birds’ diets are unable to get enough calcium to secrete their shells.