A groundbreaking study, part-funded by the Marine Biological Association (MBA), has demonstrated the power of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to assess biodiversity in rocky intertidal zones across the UK. This is one of the first multi-scale applications of eDNA in these dynamic coastal environments, spanning a wide latitudinal gradient and offering new insights into how … Read more
Calling all citizen scientists – one of Britain’s favourite seaside pastimes is going national. The Rock Pool Project has announced the launch of seven new hubs across the UK, bringing its Competitive Rock Pooling events to more coastal communities than ever before. Thanks to support from the ScottishPower Foundation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and … Read more
The Marine Biological Association (MBA) has launched two public surveys to gather vital information on the unusual surge in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) numbers reported in the waters off the south coast of Devon and Cornwall this year. Numbers of octopus have been rising off the coast of Devon and Cornwall. c. Keith Hiscock MBE … Read more
Marine heatwaves, oceanic incomers and non-native invaders; our changing seas are revealed in the latest ‘South-West Marine Ecosystems Report’.
The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is proud to celebrate the outstanding success of its postgraduate students, who secured an impressive five awards at the Annual PlyMSEF2025 Postgraduate Student Conference held at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The conference, organised by the Plymouth Marine Science and Education Foundation (PlyMSEF), brought together early-career researchers from five leading marine institutions … Read more
Following Invasive Species Week last week, and for the start of the the Big Rock Pool Challenge: National BioBlitz, MBA Associate Fellow, Dr John Bishop, explains the basics of understanding non-native species and the threats they pose to our native coastal marine life. What are invasive (non-native) species? Non-native species are those that are living … Read more
A groundbreaking new study published in Nature Climate Change, led by Dr Katie Smith, Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the Marine Biological Association (MBA), reveals that the summers of 2023 and 2024 experienced nearly 3.5 times as many marine heatwave days compared to any previous year on record. This surge, fuelled by climate change and exacerbated … Read more
Senior Research Fellow at the Marine Biological Association, Dr Dan Smale, has been honoured with the prestigious 2025 Hutchinson Award for his pioneering research on marine heatwaves and their impact on marine biodiversity and conservation. The G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award, presented annually by The Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), recognises scientists … Read more
Since its founding in 1884, the Marine Biological Association has been home to many pioneering female scientists who have made groundbreaking contributions to the scientific community. The MBA takes great pride in its diverse team of female scientists, whose contributions continue to shape the future of marine research. “I am thrilled to follow in the … Read more
Crinoids, (known commonly as feather stars and sea lillies) are part of the echinoderm group that includes sea urchins and sea stars. They have shown incredible morphological and biological properties that could inspire future innovations. Dr Angela Stevenson, Senior Research Fellow at the Marine Biological Association is on a mission to discover more about the … Read more
The Marine Biological Association
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The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom is a registered charity in England and Wales (1155893), and is a company limited by Royal Charter (RC000865). The Marine Biological Association conducts, promotes and supports scientific research into all aspects of life in the sea.