The Marine Biological Association

Swipe to find out why you should apply for our Student Bursary Programme! 🌟🐠 Our student bursaries aim to provide financial support to individuals pursuing higher education or research opportunities in marine biology, helping to aid attendance at conferences, workshops and networking events. 🗓️ The deadline for our next round of Student Bursary Applications close on Monday 2nd September at noon (12pm) Bursaries are available for Student, Newly qualified and Postgraduate MBA Members. Apply here ➡️ https://buff.ly/3TuxcPm Become a Student Member for £25 per year ➡️ https://buff.ly/4cuvdDT

🌿 Marine species such as seagrass, kelp, bivalves, and corals play a crucial role in the world’s most diverse ecosystems, but they are increasingly under threat from 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 Smale group conducted a series of simulations to test the responses of these important marine species in the Western English Channel. Dive into the full, open access paper in the British Ecological Society ➡️ https://buff.ly/3yKJzSN

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 are now able to collect data in real time and monitor marine life in ways that were previously unimaginable. Dive into our latest update to see how technology continues to transform marine research ➡️ https://buff.ly/3SYkCtU #MBA140

❗️ The deadline for our next round of Student Bursary Applications close on Monday 2nd September at noon (12pm) ❗️ Bursaries are available for Student, Newly qualified and Postgraduate MBA Members. Our Bursary Program aims to provide financial support to individuals pursuing higher education or research opportunities in marine biology, helping to aid attendance at conferences, workshops and networking events. If you are an MBA Student Member, you can apply here ➡️ https://buff.ly/3TuxcPm Become a Student Member for £25 per year ➡️ https://buff.ly/4cuvdDT

On this day, August 20th, we celebrate the birthday of Marie Lebour born in 1876 🎂🌊 Marie started her professional career at the University of Leeds in 1906, and in 1915, she joined the Marine Biological Association to cover the reduction in staff due to their service in WWI. She became a permanent member of MBA staff from 1917, continuing her research up until 1964! 🔬 Much of Marie’s research focused on planktonic life in the ocean. Her publications ‘The Dinoflagellates of Northern Seas’ and ‘The Planktonic Diatoms of Northern Seas’, remains an invaluable resource for researchers today. Her detailed studies on planktonic larvae, especially decapod crustaceans, sheds light on their roles as both predators and a vital food source for fisheries. In order to study their life cycles, Marie became an expert in rearing these larvae in plunger jars to uncover their feeding habits and developmental stages. Beyond her scientific contributions, Marie was a gifted artist and featured many of her illustrations throughout her publications. We're honoured to preserve many of her original illustrations in the MBA Archives 🎨

🏆 Congratulations to University of Plymouth graduate, Leila S. on receiving this year's prestigious MBA prize for Outstanding Performance on a Marine Biology Programme. The prize is awarded annually to recognise outstanding contributions to the field of marine biology and recognises the significant impact that individuals can have in advancing our understanding and conservation of marine ecosystems. Leila shared her excitement: "If 5-year-old me could see myself now, she would be over the moon! The MBA is an inspiring community that I am so excited and proud to be part of!” We are pleased to honour Leila a professional MBA Membership and look forward to seeing what she accomplishes next! 🔬🌊 Find out more ➡️ https://buff.ly/3yHtopf

The MBA is dedicated to empowering the next generation of marine scientists and educators 🌍🌊 We recently awarded bursaries to two MBA Members, enabling them to attend the European Coral Reef Symposium in Italy. By supporting aspiring marine biologists, the MBA helps them achieve their academic and professional goals. "Participating in the symposium with a poster about my study has been incredibly beneficial for my CV and academic career. The MBA's support accelerates my journey in ocean conservation and fuels my thirst for knowledge, particularly in the field of coral research" Find out more ➡️ https://buff.ly/3M2kVzW Bursaries are available for Student, Newly qualified and Postgraduate MBA Members. Our Bursary Program aims to provide financial support to individuals pursuing higher education or research opportunities in marine biology. For more information ➡️ https://buff.ly/3TuxcPm

Ocean deoxygenation is one of the most critical changes occurring in marine ecosystems! 📝🦈 Researchers at the MBA were recently part of an international study, observing shark responses to marine heatwaves and deoxygenation. They used a unique tag to monitor oxygen levels, temperature, and movement. Find out more ➡️ https://buff.ly/4fA73KK Read the open access paper ➡️ https://buff.ly/3AdDYVf

A new report published by the MBA highlights the changes in marine life across South West England during 2023. From shifts in species distribution to the impacts of climate change, these findings are crucial in understanding our marine environment. The South-West Marine Ecosystems (The State of South-West Seas) Report is a collaborative effort, reflecting the work of hundreds of volunteer citizen scientists and professionals working in the south-west. Find out more ➡️ https://buff.ly/3YNx8jo 📸 Image credit Lauren Frape Photography

Meet Phoebe, one of our brilliant Plankton Analysts at the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey 🥼 Did you know? The CPR Survey is the most geographically extensive marine monitoring programme in the world! 🌊 At the heart of marine ecosystems, phytoplankton nourish zooplankton, forming the foundation of the ocean food chain. 🔬 As a Plankton Analyst, Phoebe counts and identifies many different species of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton in samples taken globally. The data she gathers is invaluable for scientists and policy makers, shedding light on crucial changes in our marine environment like climate change and ocean acidification. 🌟 As a fairly new member of staff at the MBA, Phoebe loves being part of a passionate and dedicated team. She is looking forward to furthering her analysis skills and choosing an area to specialise in within the CPR Survey.