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 pivotal in revealing how marine heatwaves (MHWs – short-term, extreme ocean warming events) are intensifying due to anthropogenic climate change and are reshaping marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. His work has shown that MHWs can cause widespread mortality of foundational species such as kelp, coral, and seagrass, leading to ecological disruption, species redistribution, and loss of ecosystem services including fisheries productivity and carbon sequestration.
Using a combination of field experiments, long-term ecological monitoring, and global meta-analyses, Dan and his international network of collaborators has quantified the biological responses of marine organisms to thermal stress, highlighting vulnerabilities in regions with high biodiversity and concurrent human pressures. His studies have helped define MHWs scientifically and assess their increasing frequency and severity across all ocean basins.
Dan has also conducted research on kelp forest ecosystems across Europe, Australia, and South America, demonstrating their role as habitat-forming species and their sensitivity to both gradual warming and extreme climatic events. His applied collaborations with industry and government are supporting the development of sustainable seaweed industries and informing marine conservation strategies.
In response to the news of being chosen to receive the Marsh Prize, Dan said: “It’s a real honour to receive this award. Climate change is driving rapid and profound changes in our oceans, and our scientific community is committed to advancing understanding of biological responses and ecological impacts. I am really humbled to receive recognition from such an important and well-known society such as the BES.”
Dan will be formally presented with the prize at the BES Annual Meeting in Edinburgh, 15 to 18 December 2025.
