Coastal Ecology

Marine Biological Association Postgraduates sweep awards at prestigious PlyMSEF2025 Conference

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The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is proud to celebrate the outstanding success of its postgraduate students, who secured an impressive seven 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

Invasive non-native species: Understanding the basics

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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

Record-breaking marine heatwaves caused global devastation in the last two years

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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

Dr Dan Smale awarded 2025 Hutchinson Award for Groundbreaking Research on Marine Heatwaves and Biodiversity

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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

Celebrating trailblazing women in marine science on International Day of Women and Girls in Science

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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

The quirky bodies of crinoids could shed light on the past while inspiring future innovations and cell therapies.

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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

MBA researcher has been awarded the Prix d’Excellence ICES award for pioneering research on climate change

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A Senior Research Fellow from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) has been recognised for their outstanding contributions to marine biology research with a prestigious award. Dr Dan Smale has been awarded the Prix d’Excellence by The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The award, which is presented every third year, acknowledges the … Read more

Marine heatwaves threaten important marine species in British waters

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Marine species such as seagrasses, kelps, bivalves and corals play a crucial role in the world’s most diverse ecosystems, but they are increasing threatened by marine heatwaves. When marine heatwaves increase ocean temperatures, it can cause devastating effects for marine life with increased deaths and population declines. Scientists from the Marine Biological Association’s (MBA) Smale … Read more

140 Years: How technology is advancing marine science

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From underwater videography to aerial drones, technological advancements in ocean observation have significantly enhanced our understanding of marine ecosystems and the impact of human activities on the marine environment. Scientists from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) are now able to collect data in real-time and monitor marine life in ways that were previously unimaginable. Cutting-edge … Read more

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The Marine Biological Association conducts, promotes and supports scientific research into all aspects of life in the sea. We're working with our ever-growing membership to provide a clear and independent voice on behalf of the marine biological community

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