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Rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have led to changes in the ocean’s chemistry and may pose an even greater risk to plankton populations than was previously believed.

The study, published in Nature Climate Change, showed that half of the CO2 released into the atmosphere by humans is dissolved into the world’s oceans, leading to lowered pH levels and higher levels of carbonic acid.

After helping to conduct research on the study, Professor John Beardall said, “Acidity levels will more than double by the end of the century as a result of the increase in CO2 levels in the ocean, but it is unclear how the growth of plankton will respond to this increase.”

More research is planned to further determine how plankton will be affected by the ocean’s changing chemistry.

Read more about the study here.