Marine biology facilities

Students have access to a wide range of specialist facilities
Falcon spirit

Our specialist facilities

The University has a wide range of equipment and technology to guide your studies in the right direction

Marine Biology students in the Davy Labs Behavioural facilities
 Use our custom-built labs and equipment to understand animal personality. Investigate how marine animals avoid predators, optimise foraging, or engage in contest.

University of Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre Imaging
 We have a wide range of imaging facilities including fluorescent microscopy, in vivo time lapsing and electron microscopy (Electron Microscopy lab, pictured).

Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre (MBERC) conducts research across a wide range of subject areas within the realms of marine biology, conservation, ecophysiology and ecology; these include studies across terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments. Bioimaging
 Benefit from our custom-built bio-imaging facility to understand how marine organisms develop under different environmental conditions.

Fluorescence Microscopy Fluorescence Microscopy

Marine Biology students in the Davy Labs Mesocoms
 In our mesocoms facility you can create a range of environmental conditions predicted for the future under current climate change scenarios.

Marine Biology students in the Davy Labs Mesocoms
 With our wide range of physiological equipment, you can investigate how marine organisms work and how they respond to predicted changes in global environmental drivers.

Molecular facilities Molecular facilities
 Become a modern marine biologist using our state-of-the-art molecular facilities to study the genetics of natural populations, or investigate the molecular mechanisms that allow organisms to respond to their environment.

Research vessel Falcon Spirit. ROV ROVs
 Set sail from the Marine Station and utilise our Remotely Operated Vehicles for carrying out seabed surveys.

2 divers in the sea with flag and boat Diving
 Becoming a HSE PRO SCUBA commercial diver makes you more employable during and after university. Our past students have benefited from becoming commercial divers and have dived at the National Marine Aquarium during their studies.

Marine Biology students in the Davy Labs Specialist computing and software
 In our computing facilities and labs, you will be able to use specialist software to map the sea bed or model larval dispersal.

Falcon spirit Access to a fully-equipped fleet of boats
 We have a 14m catamaran which is used, along with smaller boats, for group practicals and individual project work spanning collection of seabed and water samples and acquisition of hydrographic survey and oceanographic datasets.

  • Lecture facilities overlooking the sea
  • Equipment for processing biological samples and identifying organisms
  • Molecular and physiological laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment
  • Controlled temperature chambers and wet labs for experiments on a variety of scales
  • Mesocom facilities
  • Seawater aquaria
  • Labs and specialist equipment for behavioural studies
  • Computing facilities and specialist software
  • Bio-imaging facilities
  • Boat provision and diving training allowing for sub-tidal investigation
  • Remotely Operated Vehicle for carrying out surveys of the seabed.