Press office news tagged school-of-biological-and-marine-sciences

Mangroves – like this one at Cispatá Bay, a protected marine area located in the Morrosquillo Gulf along Colombia's Caribbean coast – are efficient carbon sinks, but they may drown and lose their ability to store carbon under sea-level rise

Rising seas could ‘drown’ mangroves and release carbon

University of Plymouth news: A new study led by Dr Arya Iwantoro, Senior Research Consultant in Coastal Modelling at the University, found that mangroves could store less carbon – and even begin releasing it – as sea levels rise.

Professor Matthew Palmer has been working in the marine autonomy sector for more than two decades and will officially join the University of Plymouth as its new Professor of Marine Autonomy and Environmental Intelligence in June

University appoints senior academic to drive marine autonomy innovation and collaboration

University of Plymouth news: Professor Matthew Palmer has been working in the marine autonomy sector for more than two decades and will officially join the University as its new Professor of Marine Autonomy and Environmental Intelligence

Plastic bottle floating in the sea

Food and drink related litter dominates global plastic pollution

University of Plymouth news: New research led by the University has generated the world’s first overview of global marine litter by usage type.

Pseudo-nitzschia are a common component of the phytoplankton community along Europe’s Atlantic coast and the North Sea, and a number of species produce the toxins responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning

Study provides detailed assessment of shifts in toxin-producing phytoplankton abundance

University of Plymouth news: The University led a study showing how the abundance and distribution of two groups of toxin-producing phytoplankton – Pseudo-nitzschia and Dinophysis – have changed over the last six decades

Illustration of a liver for Environmental Hepatology Plymouth

Scientists explore whether plastic particles could be linked to significant rises in liver disease

University of Plymouth news: A new article written by experts from Plymouth’s Centre of Environmental Hepatology explores whether tiny plastic particles are directly contributing to the soaring global rates of liver disease.

Atlantic Ocean wide

Study explores how science can support and enable the High Seas Treaty

University of Plymouth news: A new international study involving researchers from the University says there are considerable challenges which could presently hamper the implementation of the High Seas Treaty from a scientific and technological perspective

Aerial view of pod of bottlenose dolphin swimming in the ocean

Partnership develops real-time marine mammal detection system

University of Plymouth news: A new Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) combines expertise in marine conservation, robotics, marine autonomy and sensor technology from the University of Plymouth and MSeis

Creative Associates - food insecurity

University contributes to ambitious plan for food security and growth

University of Plymouth news: Academics from the University’s Centre of Research excellence in Intelligent and Sustainable Productive Systems (CRISPS) have worked with partners across the Great South West consortium on the new Agrifood Growth Plan

Drone footage captured by the University of Plymouth's Coastal Processes Research Group on February 5, 2026 showing the A379 between Torcross and Strete in South Devon damaged by a series of winter storms

Storms and shifting sands – assessing the ocean’s impact on Start Bay

University of Plymouth news: Members of the University’s Coastal Processes Research Group have been conducting assessments along Start Bay for the past 20 years, charting the changes caused by rising sea levels and increased storms

The common octopus is native to UK waters but is typically rare, favouring warmer seas further south in Europe and the Mediterranean

New report reveals scale, causes and consequences of South West octopus bloom

University of Plymouth news: Our researchers have contributed to a new report revealing that a dramatic population bloom of the common octopus is having significant effects on fisheries and marine ecosystems

An image taken by scientists from the University of Plymouth at 60m depth at Egmont Atoll, Indian Ocean, in March 2022 using a drop-camera system. The image shows a healthy colony of the reef-building coral species, Pachyseris speciosa

£3.7m project aims to provide unprecedented analysis of mesophotic coral reefs

University of Plymouth news: The University is leading a five-year initiative, supported by public investment from the Natural Environment Research Council, will assess the response and resilience of mesophotic coral ecosystems to future climate change

Atlantic Ocean wide

UK marine heatwave research priorities outlined in new national roadmap

University of Plymouth news: Scientists from the University have contributed to new research calling for a coordinated response to the growing environmental threat posed by marine heatwaves