The Marine Biological Association

Aulactinia verrucosa, Anemonia viridis, and Actiinia fragacea out at Portland Bill on today's @MarClim_UK survey @thembauk.bsky.social @livuniresearch.bsky.social @naturalengland.bsky.social

Calling all Ocean-Inspired Photographers!

We are inviting photographers from around the world to enter the Ocean Image Collection Photography Competition 2026.

Find out more and enter - https://www.mba.ac.uk/ocean-image-collection/

#OceanImageCollection

World Wildlife Day 🦭

A colour illustration of the European lobster, showing the deep blue colouration of the shell. The illustration is large enough that the page is trifold to fit within the book

Today is #WorldWildlifeDay. We could find many images of wildlife in our collections @thembauk.bsky.social but this one of the European lobster caught our eye. We hope you like as much as we do
📖BL.42/L - Malacostraca podophthalmata Britanniae. W.E Leach, 1815-1875. Illustrations by James Sowerby

A glorious day to be on the shore doing @MarClim_UK surveys with @naturalengland.bsky.social staff in Dorset @thembauk.bsky.social @livuniresearch.bsky.social

Calling all Postgraduate & Early-Career Marine Scientists!

Join us for the 22nd Marine Biological Association (MBA) Postgraduate Conference at Newcastle University from 15–17 April 2026.

🔗 Apply & Book Tickets here: www.ncl.ac.uk/nes/news/eve...

#ResearchConference #NewcastleUniversity

UVs from last week’s sample! Harpacticoida, Cirripedia nauplius (with Asterionellopsis glacialis next to it), Pseudocalanus (with Trieres mobiliensis/regia), not sure - Harpacticoida or Cyclopoida (what do you think?).

#marineplankton 🦑

Understanding these molecular mechanisms is vital for determining how microbial interactions drive the fate and flow of carbon in our ocean.

Congratulations to Courtney on a successful presentation!

#MarineBiology #MBAUK #OceanSciences #MicrobialEcology #CarbonCycle #WesternEnglishChannel

Her presentation focused on Ponticoccus alexandrii, a recently isolated bacterium from the Western English Channel. This "Jekyll and Hyde" microbe can switch from a beneficial partner to a lethal pathogen for diatoms, depending on environmental triggers.

Last week at the Ocean Sciences Meeting (#OSM26), Courtney Swink shared her latest findings on the complex relationship between marine bacteria and phytoplankton.

Ultimate main character energy... 💅

Gephyrocapsa huxleyi is less than 5 microns wide (you could fit about 20 on the tip of a needle), yet it insists on being visible from actual space.

SEM Micrographs: Frieda Schlegel
Satellite Imagery: ESA (European Space Agency)

Over 30% of global marine catch comes from small-scale fisheries, contributing to global food security, livelihoods, and resilient communities, and yet the UK's inshore fishing fleet is in decline.

Listen now - https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DFAdWqpeonTBRb3AhEEmT?si=jhtxYUaXR36gGX8pbse6mw

Among the leading voices at #OSM26 Our researchers presented new findings and shared insights from our long‑running observation programmes.

Read the full story 👉 https://www.mba.ac.uk/mba-scientists-lead-on-global-ocean-observation-at-the-2026-ocean-sciences-meeting/

Oh this? Just my Friday entrance.
 
This inquisitive young seal came to visit just after @paulnaylormarinephoto set up his static underwater camera.
 
Learn more about #GreySeals with MarLIN https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1995

Brian Morton Exchange Fund The Brian Morton Exchange Fund enables early career researchers with less than 10 years post PhD experience to undertake two months' research visit at either the Marine Biological Association, or a research institution in Hong Kong or The Azores to encourage collaboration between these organisations...

Find full eligibility details and apply here 👉

Through Brian's generous legacy to the MBA, his wishes were to encourage international collaboration between these organisations and provide early career researchers with access to world-leading expertise, research facilities, long-term marine biodiversity datasets, and diverse ecosystems.

Last chance to apply for the Brian Morton Exchange Fund

Established in memory of Prof. Brian Morton, the Fund honours his lifelong commitment to marine biology allowing early career researchers to undertake an exchange between the MBA, and a research institution in Hong Kong, or the Azores.

This discovery identifies a previously unknown flexibility that helps diatoms maintain photosynthesis and sustain marine ecosystems, even as the ocean changes.

www.mba.ac.uk/diatoms-reveal-hidden-rapid-adaptability-in-carbon-uptake-in-scientific-first/

#Diatoms #MarineScience

Scientists at the Marine Biological Association have used a pioneering technological approach in individual diatom cells to uncover how these microscopic ocean organisms rapidly adjust their carbon uptake strategies to cope with changing conditions in the ocean.

Back out on the Dee deploying refuges to study Eriocheir sinensis, thr invasive Chinese mitten crab with dissertation students from University of Liverpool & Natural Resources Wales @natreswales.bsky.social @livuniresearch.bsky.social @thembauk.bsky.social

🌙  Graceful and almost otherworldly, the moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) are carnivorous, passive filter feeders that consume vast amounts of zooplankton, including crustacean larvae, rotifers and fish eggs.

 https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/2089

Explore the full programme and see our contributions across the week:
https://eppro02.ativ.me/web/planner.php?id=OSM26

#OSM26 #OceanScience #MarineResearch #ClimateScience #Innovation #BlueEconomy #MarineResearchPlymouthAlliance

At OSM26, our team will be:

🔬 Chairing scientific sessions
🌊 Presenting new, cutting-edge marine research
🤝 Connecting with collaborators across academia, policy and industry

What is OSM?

The Ocean Sciences Meeting is a major global gathering of researchers, policymakers, technologists and industry leaders advancing our understanding of the ocean - from climate systems and biodiversity to emerging marine technologies and sustainable ocean solutions.

Heading to #OSM26? See you in Glasgow

We're exhibiting alongside Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the University of Plymouth as part of the Marine Research Plymouth Alliance - a powerhouse partnership driving innovation in marine science.

📍 Scottish Event Campus, Glasgow
📅 22–27 February
📌 Stand 38

Drop your best guess below - no Googling!

They're in no rush… but can you identify it before it reaches the bait?

#BRUV #FieldworkFriday #MarineMystery

Our Journal | Marine Biology | Marine Biological Association The Journal of the Marine Biological Association UK, first published in 1887 contains original research and reviews on all aspects of marine biology.

Find out more about publishing in the Journal of The Marine Biological Association

The discovery, published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association, represents the first alpheid shrimp recorded in an estuary in this region.

Read the full article in the Journal -

New Pistol Shrimp Species Discovered in Kochi Backwaters

In a breakthrough, researchers from the School of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) have identified a new species of pistol shrimp, commonly known as snapping shrimp, within the Kochi backwaters.

Atlantic puffins normally come ashore in spring to breed, spending the rest of the year out at sea, meaning they're fully exposed to harsh winter storms and rough conditions.

✍Log your sighting on iNaturalist to support monitoring and research - uk.inaturalist.org