Kelp forests show resilience to disturbance – but warming seas may slow recovery
Kelp forests along the UK coastline are more resilient to disturbance than previously thought, according to a MBA study recently published in the Journal of Ecology.
Smale Group
Marine Licence granted for pioneering kelp restoration project
A new marine licence has been approved for an innovative project aiming to revive British kelp beds. This is the first time the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) have granted a marine licence for kelp restoration activities in the UK. Kelp forests are vital to marine ecosystems providing habitat, food, and breeding grounds for marine species, … Read more
MBA researchers reveal climate change threat to kelp forest ecosystems
A new study co-authored by the Marine Biological Association’s Senior Research Fellow Dr Dan Smale, Lankester Research Fellow Professor Stephen J. Hawkins, Postdoctoral Research Assistant Dr Nathan King, and former PhD student Harry Teagle, has revealed how the loss of kelp forests at their southern range edge could dramatically reshape marine ecosystems. Dense patches of … Read more
Ocean under pressure: warming seas weaken Earth’s greatest carbon sink, threatening marine life and livelihoods
Earth’s natural defences are losing strength as temperatures rise, major new report warns. The planet’s natural carbon sinks – the ocean, forests and soils – are reaching their limits, absorbing less carbon than expected and risking a major setback to global climate targets, according to a major new report launched today ahead of COP30. The … Read more
Dr Dan Smale awarded Marsh Prize for groundbreaking climate change research
We are proud to announce that Dr Dan Smale, Senior Research Fellow at the Marine Biological Association, has been awarded the Marsh Award for Climate Change Research by the British Ecological Society (BES). This prestigious honour recognises Dan’s exceptional contributions to understanding the ecological impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. Dan’s research has been … Read more
Marine Biological Association Postgraduates sweep awards at prestigious PlyMSEF2025 Conference
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
Record-breaking marine heatwaves caused global devastation in the last two years
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
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
MBA researcher has been awarded the Prix d’Excellence ICES award for pioneering research on climate change
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
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
