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School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social · 15d

Our Marine Science degrees kicked off their induction with a trip to Newquay, where they could choose between a coastal walk, coasteering, or surfing! ✨
The trip included students from:
🌊 Ocean Science
🗺️ Ocean Exploration & Surveying
🐬 Ocean Science & Marine Conservation

Group photo of Marine Science students before coasteering

Coasteering student walking over the rocks before they jump into the ocean!

Students enjoying the coastal view on their walk

Students at Firstral Beach after a fun day Surfing

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Reposted by School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth

Bryce Stewart @bd-stew.bsky.social · 17d

LAST CHANCE to fill out our #octopus surveys! Fishermen & divers of the UK, have your say if you haven't already, surveys close at midnight tonight, Sunday 21st September! @thembauk.bsky.social @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social @pml.ac.uk @plymuni.bsky.social Please share 🐙

Bryce Stewart @bd-stew.bsky.social · 25d

Fishermen & divers of the UK we need YOU! Our #octopus bloom surveys have been extended to Sept 21st. If you haven't already done so, please fill out the fishermen's survey survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90884550/... or divers survey survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90886025/... Thank you! Please share widely! 🐙

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Plymouth Marine Laboratory @pml.ac.uk · 19d

👀 Spotted an #octopus off the #SouthWest coast? #Fishermen & #divers, we want to hear from you! 🐙

Take part in this survey (closing Sun 21 Sept) & help us study this year’s unusual #CommonOctopus bloom:

🎣 Fishers: survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90884550/...

🤿 Divers: survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90886025/...

We've joined forces with The Marine Biological Association, the University of Plymouth and partners in a new project to investigate the unusual surge in #CommonOctopus (#OctopusVulgaris) numbers reported in the waters off the south coast of #Devon and #Cornwall this year.

We want to understand the history and potential environmental causes of such blooms, the effects they are having on the #FishingIndustry, and the potential for such blooms to happen again in the future.

It's the last chance to take part in the survey and share your experiences - closing this Sunday 21 September 2025. Thank you to all those who take part!

This work is funded by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Plymouth City Council and Devon Council.

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School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social · 19d

🦀 Hairy claws make hermits braver!
BBC has featured a paper by PhD researcher Ari Drummond (et al.) in Proceedings B, revealing how shell traits can boost confidence in hermit crabs.

#PhDLife #HermitCrabs #AnimalBehaviour #SoBMS #UniversityOfPlymouth #BBC

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Hairy claws make hermit crabs braver, Plymouth study finds

Crabs with more sensory hairs are found to act more boldly, research suggests.

www.bbc.co.uk

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School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social · 23d

🌎🧬 Last week, two of our postgraduate researchers from @plymuni.bsky.social attended @nerc-eof.bsky.social Metabarcoding & eDNA wetlab and bioinformatics workshop at @sheffielduni.bsky.social!

#eDNA #TrainingCourse #NEOF #NERCFunded #PhDLife #Metabarcoding #Bioinformatics @victoriamann.bsky.social

Group photo of attendees of the workshop at NEOF facility

Image of PhD candidates Victoria Mann & Jake Hebb

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Bryce Stewart @bd-stew.bsky.social · 25d

Fishermen & divers of the UK we need YOU! Our #octopus bloom surveys have been extended to Sept 21st. If you haven't already done so, please fill out the fishermen's survey survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90884550/... or divers survey survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90886025/... Thank you! Please share widely! 🐙

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Reposted by School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth

Louise Firth @louisefirth.bsky.social · 27d

Well done to Franz Bauer for collecting the 2 year dataset on the biodiversity colonising the Living Seawalls in Plymouth. Fucoid algae continues to dominate. 🤎 Many new species moving in..🦀🐌🪸

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Reposted by School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth

Bryce Stewart @bd-stew.bsky.social · Sep 7

A pleasure as always to drop in to @3rrrfm.bsky.social Radio Marinara in Melbourne this morning to share the latest marine news from the UK. This time, it was all about the #octopus bloom 🐙 The whole show is great. You can hear my interview at about 13 minutes in: www.rrr.org.au/explore/prog...

Programs: Radio Marinara — Triple R 102.7FM, Melbourne Independent Radio

The team continues the great Marinara tradition of bringing you a quirky but informative look at all that is marine.

www.rrr.org.au

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Reposted by School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth

Plymouth Marine Laboratory @pml.ac.uk · Sep 7

“If there’s a risk that these chemicals can harm #coral and other #MarineLife, if there’s less harmful compounds out there that we can use instead, then we need to establish what they are,” says Anneliese Hodge. news.mongabay.com/2025/08/suns...

Sunscreens protect us but also pose real planetary health concerns

Today’s beach outing is not the same as your grandparents’ beach outing: With intense summer heat waves now the norm due to climate change, and with the ozone layer still not fully healed, people need...

news.mongabay.com

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · Sep 1

Our next round of student bursaries is now open! ⭐🌎 MBA student bursaries have helped turn ambition into action—removing financial barriers & unlocking access to global events, groundbreaking research, & career-shaping connections.

🗓️ Deadline: 31st October 2025 at 12pm

Apply here ➡️ buff.ly/3TuxcPm

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · Sep 4

#Fishermen of Devon & Cornwall - have higher numbers of #octopus affected your catch? The MBA and partners are gathering your experiences on the impact - positive and negative. Take part in our survey, which will guide future support. bit.ly/3V2lVbR Image c. South Devon and Channel Fishermen Ltd.

2 octopus trapped in a crab pot with empty lobster and crab shells scattered around.

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Reposted by School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth

theincomingtide.bsky.social @theincomingtide.bsky.social · Aug 26

Our latest Podcast is out. Don & Howard chat to an old friend and @arrancoast.bsky.social research collaborator @bd-stew.bsky.social @reviveourocean.bsky.social @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social @thembauk.bsky.social
1st Bryce has to plant a tree.
youtu.be/NgpmERb10D0

The Incoming Tide, podcast from the Isle of Arran with Dr Bryce Stewart

YouTube video by The Incoming Tide

youtu.be

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Bryce Stewart @bd-stew.bsky.social · Aug 29

Delighted to share this interview on the @incomingtide.bsky.social. Huge thanks to Don MacNeish for saving a tree for me & @howardlwood.bsky.social for chatting with me about my involvement with @arrancoast.bsky.social over the past 20 years youtu.be/NgpmERb10D0?... #mpaswork #bemorescallop 🪸 🐟🐙🌱🦀🦞

The Incoming Tide, podcast from the Isle of Arran with Dr Bryce Stewart

YouTube video by The Incoming Tide

youtu.be

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School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social · Aug 21

🌿 Join us in celebrating Plymouth’s fantastic achievement in the Botanical University Challenge, taking 2nd place in a very close national final yesterday! 🥈

You can watch the intense finals here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX_s...

@bucbotany.bsky.social #BUC2025 #BotanicalUniversityChallenge #Botany

Group photo of the student who represented Plymouth University in the Botanical University Challenge, coming in second place.

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School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social · Aug 21

Through funding from #ResearchEngland and @plymuni.bsky.social, #CRISPS has opened the new Marie Lebour Marine Research Facility and our eDNA & Metabarcoding facility!

#foodproduction #aquaculture #eDNA #metabarcoding #eDNAsequencing 🧪

www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/new-fac...

New facilities enable scientists and students to answer key questions around sustainable food production

University of Plymouth news: The Marie Lebour Marine Biology Research Facility will enable the University to both continue, and expand on, its...

www.plymouth.ac.uk

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School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social · Aug 21

🌊 Another fantastic #MarineResearchPlymouth project, bringing together expertise from @plymuni.bsky.social @thembauk.bsky.social & @pml.ac.uk!

Lead by our incredible @bd-stew.bsky.social

Project funded by @plymouthcc.bsky.social,
#devoncountycouncil & #defrauk

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School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social · Aug 21

🐙Have you spotted a Common Octopus in South West England?
We’d love to hear from you - share your sightings by completing our short survey: survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90886025/...
#CitizenScience #Octopus #OctopusBoom #SouthWest #Diver #Snorkeling #MarineLife #AnimalBehaviour 🧪🌍

Image of Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) taken by Keith Hiscock

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BSBI Botany @bsbibotany.bsky.social · Aug 20

Huge congratulations to the team from Plymouth @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social led by the fabulous @botanycornwall.bsky.social!

Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · Aug 20

19 points each!The 4th tiebreaker between Reading and Plymouth in Botanical University Challenge Correct answer from Plymouth, so they are through to the final. #BUC2025

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · Aug 11

The July issue of #TheMarineBiologist is out now! We explore the 'octopus bloom''; a rare habitat of glass sponges; inshore fishing regulation as well as the latest developments in marine biology research and news from the MBA. Become a member and get exclusive access bit.ly/4onqdb4

#MarineBiology

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Bryce Stewart @bd-stew.bsky.social · Aug 16

Thanks to Oceanographic mag for this article on our new project on the UK #octopus bloom & to Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council & Defra for their financial support
oceanographicmagazine.com/news/extraor... @thembauk.bsky.social @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social @plymuni.bsky.social @pml.ac.uk 🐙

"Extraordinary" investigation into UK octopus bloom launches - Oceanographic

Plymouth and Devon county councils partner with DEFRA to launch investigative study into the cause and consequences of UK octopus bloom

oceanographicmagazine.com

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Bryce Stewart @bd-stew.bsky.social · Aug 12

Record warm seas help to bring extraordinary new species to UK waters.
Pleased to be interviewed about the "canaries in the coal mine" for this article
www.bbc.com/news/article... @thembauk.bsky.social @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social #climatechange #fisheries #octopus 🌊 🔥 🐙

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Reposted by School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth

Bryce Stewart @bd-stew.bsky.social · Aug 12

NEW PAPER: Mainstreaming Habitat Management Objectives in an Ecosystem-Based Approach to Management of #Scallop #Fisheries
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... Delighted to share this study by former PhD student Mairi Fenton @thembauk.bsky.social @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social @heriotwattuni.bsky.social

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School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social · Aug 11

A six-year, study led by #PaigntonZoo with the @plymuni.bsky.social represents one of the most ambitious undertakings in modern #ZooResearch, screening more than 27,000 articles a process that could transform how endangered species are cared for across the globe!
www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/world-f...

World-first study to revolutionise care of endangered species

University of Plymouth news: A world-first study has catalogued the scientific evidence behind animal management, to help zoos and aquariums make...

www.plymouth.ac.uk

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Louise Firth @louisefirth.bsky.social · Aug 9

Huge thank you to placement student Jimi Boyd from @plymuni.bsky.social for conducting surveys of #sandmartins using wall cracks in River Lee. Cork. 🐦‍⬛🪺🏙️ #urban #ecology. International placements are great for students to broaden knowledge, skills & experience.🇮🇪🇬🇧 @ucc.ie @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social

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School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social · Jul 31

Learn More: www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/ins...

#Aquaculture #Fisheries #MusselFarm #PlymUni 🧪🐙

Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries

University of Plymouth research: Aquaculture plays a crucial role in ensuring our future food security. Doing this as sustainably as possible, to meet...

www.plymouth.ac.uk

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