Scientists warn that we're running short on time to conserve the vital ecological diversity in the oceans.
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A new study shows a grim future for marine plants and animals if we don't do something soon to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Volcanoes caused the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during the Permian period some 250 million years ago.
"Caused the whole climate of the Earth to warm up," Curtis Deutsch told KCBS Radio. "It acidified the oceans and critically we believe it depleted the oxygen gas that's in the ocean that all marine species need to breathe."
Deutsch is a professor of geosciences at Princeton University and the author of the study said the current burning of fossil fuels could have a similar effect.
"We would reach levels similar to that in magnitude if we stay on the current track," he said. "On the other hand, we do have the options to really act quickly to reduce fossil fuel emissions, CO2 burning, land-use change that releases CO2 into the atmosphere and if we do that our study shows that you can really prevent a mass extinction."
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