Plymouth Marine Laboratory in the news https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us provides the latest news from Plymouth Marine Laboratory Satellite mapping reveals recent and large-scale habitat changes across the Southern Ocean's seascapes New research reveals that changes following the recent and dramatic decline in Antarctic sea ice could help a low-nutritional species prosper, with major ramifications for food webs and biogeochemical cycles. The findings are published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-satellite-reveals-large-scale-habitat.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:50:01 EDT news692894702 New evidence reveals how Greenland's seaweed locks away carbon in the deep ocean An interdisciplinary study confirms, for the first time, the oceanographic pathways that transport floating macroalgae from the coastal waters of Southwest Greenland to deep-sea carbon reservoirs, potentially playing a previously underappreciated role in global carbon storage. The work is published in the journal Science of The Total Environment. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-evidence-reveals-greenland-seaweed-carbon.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:29:30 EST news688645741 Biological pumps: How zooplankton are transporting microplastics to the ocean depths A new study has, for the first time, recorded and measured just how fast microplastics move through the gut passage of a key zooplankton species in real time—and used those measurements to estimate how much plastic these tiny animals might be transporting—and sinking down—through the ocean each day. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-biological-zooplankton-microplastics-ocean-depths.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:59:44 EST news686847541 How bubbles may speed up CO₂ uptake by the ocean A new study provides evidence that the ocean may have absorbed as much as 15% (0.3–0.4 Pg C yr-1) more CO2 than previously thought, requiring a re-think of future CO2 flux assessments and global climate models. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-uptake-ocean.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:40:23 EST news685111201 How plastic pollution may influence antimicrobial resistance A new study reveals an alarming number of mechanisms throughout the life-cycle of plastic that could enhance or spread antimicrobial resistance. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-plastic-pollution-antimicrobial-resistance.html Tue, 22 Jul 2025 13:12:04 EDT news672408714 Sharper ocean color data: Community-developed processor helps reduce optical sensor uncertainty A team of ocean optics experts, led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory, has evaluated the accuracy of above-water optical sensors, using a community-developed processor, to produce the highest-quality data for satellite ocean color validation and facilitate monitoring the health of our coastal seas and global ocean. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-sharper-ocean-community-processor-optical.html Fri, 02 May 2025 03:20:02 EDT news665370903 Moving forward with microplastics research Microplastics have been recorded in a range of zooplankton species, and they are already causing problems for these tiny - but vitally important - animals, even before the plastic particles make their way through the food web. A new review suggests that, to further our understanding of when and why zooplankton munch on microplastics, experiments need to better represent the tiny plastic particles actually found in the marine environment. https://phys.org/news/2018-11-microplastics.html Wed, 14 Nov 2018 08:22:50 EST news461406162 Efficient eddies carry warmer waters across the Atlantic Eddies formed off South Africa can trap and transport water across the vast expanse of the Atlantic to Brazil, and, in doing so, make an important contribution to the global climate. https://phys.org/news/2018-08-efficient-eddies-warmer-atlantic.html Fri, 24 Aug 2018 07:10:40 EDT news454313429 Effects of hypoxia stronger on a busy benthos As coastal marine environments become starved of oxygen, the response of one key species could have further consequences for an entire ecosystem. https://phys.org/news/2018-05-effects-hypoxia-stronger-busy-benthos.html Fri, 04 May 2018 05:49:22 EDT news444631750 Copepod mortality rates have been linked to jellyfish abundance and warmer, windier conditions Zooplankton may be tiny, but their importance to the health of the planet is not – they are microscopic life that makes a huge contribution to the fine balance of ocean ecosystems. Copepods make up a significant proportion of zooplankton biomass – tiny invertebrates that are the key prey resource for many marine animals, from other zooplankton and fish larvae to sharks and whales, and are a crucial part of the food web. https://phys.org/news/2018-05-copepod-mortality-linked-jellyfish-abundance.html Tue, 01 May 2018 06:32:16 EDT news444375127 Warming world will affect fish size and fisheries Current fishery targets may become unachievable as the planet warms. https://phys.org/news/2018-03-world-affect-fish-size-fisheries.html Mon, 26 Mar 2018 04:14:14 EDT news441256444 First evidence that seals can consume microplastics via their prey Microplastics can transfer up the food chain from fish to top predators, such as seals, reveals new research by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), University of Exeter and the Cornish Seal Sanctuary. https://phys.org/news/2018-02-evidence-consume-microplastics-prey.html Thu, 22 Feb 2018 04:21:32 EST news438495674 To understand the sea, focus on the seabed A new review, led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory scientists, sets priorities for the benefit of future benthic research. https://phys.org/news/2018-02-sea-focus-seabed.html Fri, 02 Feb 2018 06:22:35 EST news436774950