Category

Biodiversity Loss

Science group

Biodiversity

Our vision is for the restoration of diverse and productive ecosystems that are maintained and managed sustainably.

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Science group

eDNA

Investigating community dynamics and ecosystem function in unprecedented detail and exploring to what extent environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches can be used as a measure of biodiversity. Our eDNA research and data contributes towards improved environmental and risk management, such as in relation to...

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Science group

Plankton

Plankton support the majority of marine ecosystems and the human communities that depend on these ecosystems. Through primary production, phytoplankton fix carbon to provide food, and generate oxygen, for higher trophic levels. Plankton both affect our climate and are affected by it. Understanding t...

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  Phytodiverse: Advancing Ocean Biodiversity Science from Space

  Phytodiverse will advance the science of phytoplankton diversity algorithms for Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBV) and derived indicators from space. The project develop innovative techniques to combine ESA satellites (Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3) with hyperspectral data from PACE to create enhanc...
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  Fronts for Marine Wildlife Assessment for Renewable Developments (FRONTWARD)

  Fronts for Marine Wildlife Assessment for Renewable Developments (FRONTWARD) aims to enhance our understanding of the relationship between ocean fronts and biodiversity hotspots, and to evaluate how these data can be applied in the future planning of marine sectors, such as offshore renewables.
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  Tipping Points and Abrupt Changes in Marine Ecosystems​ (TIME)

  The Tipping points and abrupt changes In the Marine Ecosystem (TIME) project is developing new ways to identify early warning signs of major changes in marine ecosystems. By combining satellite observations, in situ measurements, and ecosystem models, TIME aims to improve our understanding of how ma...
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  Sentinel User Preparation and organic Carbon from earth Observation between Ocean and Land (SUPaCOOL)

  Preparing users for next-generation CHIME and LSTM satellite missions to monitor organic carbon flux in coastal waters and river plumes-closing critical gaps in global carbon cycle understanding.
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  Valuing Marine Artificial Structures (VALMAS)

  VALMAS is a £5.6 million UK research programme that examines how marine artificial structures, such as offshore wind turbines and oil and gas platforms, interact with marine ecosystems and society. Plymouth Marine Laboratory is a key project partner, with Dr Steve Watson as Deputy Project Lead, con...
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  Coral Cartography: Mapping Atlantic Cold-Water Corals to support Area Based Management

  Coral Cartography uses deep-sea imagery to map the distribution and density of cold-water corals across the Atlantic Ocean. By combining marine ecology, environmental data and AI-enabled analysis, the project delivers new evidence to support the protection and sustainable management of vulnerable de...

11 June 2026

Detected from space: 20 years of data shows declining photosynthesis in UK and surrounding waters 

A new study by scientists at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) has revealed a significant long-term decline in ocean productivity across large parts of the north-east Atlantic, raising concerns about the future health of marine food webs, fisheries and the ocean’s ability to absorb and sequester carbon dioxide.

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  PML scientists contribute to UN ocean assessment warning of compounding threats but also pathways towards a sustainable future 

  This week the third World Ocean Assessment was launched which includes major contributions by PML scientists. This assessment is the only global integrated assessment of the world’s ocean covering environmental, economic and social as...

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  Can Marine Protected Areas withstand climate change?

  As the world marks World Ocean Day 2026 under the theme ‘Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet’, PML’s Dr Liz Talbot expla...

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  PML announces new Head of Group for Environmental Intelligence

  It was announced this week that

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  MEDIA: Uncertainty about weakening Atlantic currents isn’t a reason to wait – it’s a reason to act

  PML’s Professor Helen Findlay has written for Mongabay.com about the growing concerns surro...