Find out about the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey latest news.
Working as part of the team to ensure that the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey fleet and associated equipment is maintained in a safe and serviceable condition ready for deployment at sea to support the CPR S...
The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is delighted to announce the opening of new laboratories which will further enhance vital planktonic research. The Plankton Taxonomy Laboratory is the new home of the Continuo...
David Johns, Head of the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey operated by the Marine Biological Association (MBA) has played an integral role in driving the development of the first ever global Plankton Manifesto....
David Johns is the Director of Research Facilities at the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and has an external role as Chair of the Northeast Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme.
Four leading UK marine research institutions are joining forces to explore the ocean’s role in mitigating climate change. The Marine Biological Association (MBA), National Oceanography Centre (NOC), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) are collaborating in the marine science research programme. The Atlantic Climate and Environment Strategic Science (AtlantiS) programme, funded by UKRI – Natural Environment Research Council, supports the UK’s ambition for healthy, biologically diverse, and resilient marine environments, a sustainable blue economy and keeping communities safe from natural hazards.
UN Senior Advisor visits the CPR Survey
Advances in technology have enabled the long-awaited transformation of the existing CPR sampler into a modern autonomous platform, revolutionising monitoring capabilities while retaining consistency with the historical data gathered over almost 7 decades. In 2020, the iCPR project was born with a simple mission: ‘use modern sensing technology and introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) across our existing global plankton observation network’. And, of course, this new platform had to remain simple, robust, and cheap. The iCPR sampler is equipped with a suite of sensors able to capture the physical performance of the sampler, key environmental variables, and precise digital images of plankton using a bespoke holographic camera. Fitting neatly inside a traditional CPR sampler, the iCPR module transforms it into a self-powered platform able to sample anywhere a commercial ship is operating, with - except for deployment and retrieval - no intervention from the crew. Using the flow of water through the sampler body, two impellers generate electricity: an iCPR sampler needs no batteries and can record data over long periods of time.
Researchers from the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey based at the MBA have led a study to assess the long-term changes in dinoflagellate biomass and biodiversity to see if there is a link to large scale climate patterns and oceanic circulation in the North Atlantic.
Tiny plankton – measuring less than 20µm (or 0.02mm) in diameter – make up the majority of plankton in the ocean and play a critical role in the planet’s health, according to new research. However, scientists say challenges in identifying them have led to them becoming a silent majority that is currently being overlooked when it comes to global ocean policy.
We recently had the pleasure of welcoming Cefas Chief Executive Neil Hornby and Cefas Chief Scientist, Professor Grant Stentiford. Cefas is a government agency under the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) in the UK. It is primarily responsible for providing scientific expertise and research to support sustainable marine and freshwater environments, fisheries management, and aquaculture. Cefas conducts research on a wide range of topics related to aquatic ecosystems, environmental monitoring, and seafood safety. It plays a critical role in advising the UK government on fisheries and environmental policies.
Due to increasing workloads, we are looking for Plankton Analysts to work within the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey. These are part-time positions and once a comprehensive training programme is successfully completed, you will work as a member of a team carrying out the microscopic analysis of CPR plankton samples, and other associated tasks.
A recent report published by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has identified the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey as one of the top priorities for sustained ocean observations.
BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt visited the MBA to learn about data collected from the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey, the longest running and most geographically extensive marine plankton sampling program in the world
With 2023 on track to be the hottest year on record, scientists are working to understand and predict how these extreme temperatures will affect marine life.
The CPR Data Infrastructure Project will enable rapid and accurate data entry, analysis, visualisation and publication using global standards for marine biological data.
Opportunity for a technical partner to create cloud-based data management and publication solution
Significant changes in plankton abundance and seasonality due to global climate change could alter the biological carbon pump in the ocean, according to new research.
Using historical abundance data from the CPR Survey from 1958 to 2018, the team assessed plankton composition in terms of functional traits associated with regime shifts which took place in the 1980s and 1996 to 2003. One of the most intriguing results of this work was a relative lack of change in the functional traits of plankton during the 1980s regime shift, despite the clear detection of the event using a variety of other metrics. The results also showed the functional traits of plankton across the whole North Sea changed more after the 1996-2003 regime shift, compared to the 1980s shift. Previous works using different metrics indicated that the two regime shifts were events of similar importance, which differs from the results of this paper.
In this study, researchers analysed key responses of zooplankton to ocean warming, shifts in phenology (study of seasonal changes in the life cycles of plants and animals from year to year), range, body size and other variables. The results revealed there are key knowledge and geographic gaps in monitoring coverage that need to be urgently addressed; and integrating modern and traditional techniques for improved plankton observation could help predict future scenarios under global changes.
Plankton may offer a way to monitor historical marine pollution trends, and could be used to predict trends in human health, according to new research.
Scientists have discovered that the heating up of the North Atlantic is causing plankton to shift and change in abundance, indicating a threat to the earth’s climate.
Research Fellow and coordinator of the Pacific Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey, Dr Clare Ostle, represented the CPR Survey at The North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) marine research meeting. Held this year in Busan, South Korea, PICES is a crucial meeting in order to share the latest in North Pacific marine research. PICES is an intergovernmental organisation whose aims are; To promote and coordinate research in the North Pacific. Advance scientific knowledge of the ocean environment, and its ecosystems and impacts. Promote the exchange of scientific research and information on these subjects. As coordinator of the Pacific CPR survey, Clare attended the meeting to present some of CPR’s recent research on potentially harmful microbes and algae found on our CPR new routes in the Bering Sea and Arctic. This important work has been carried out using molecular techniques developed by Dr Rowena Stern and Hannah Robinson, alongside regular CPR sampling. “It was great to see people again and have those face to face discussions and chats about our work that are very difficult to do online.”
The Marine Biological Association (MBA) has been awarded £400,000, which will improve its research facilities, reinforcing its position as leaders in marine science. Trustees from the Garfield Weston Foundation have awarded a grant of £400,000 towards the first phase of the refurbishment and redevelopment project at the MBA’s HQ at Citadel Hill, Plymouth.
Alister Hardy is known among plankton researchers for developing and employing his Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR). Hardy used the first version of the CPR during the 1925–1927 Discovery Expedition to the Southern Ocean. However, while the CPR is well known, many plankton researchers today are likely unfamiliar with the story of its genesis and its precursors, as well as the full breadth of Hardy’s contributions to plankton research. As the CPR studies of Hardy have received substantial attention, CPR development and the early surveys will be but briefly covered. The following account is based on both Marshall’s biographical Memoire of Hardy (Marshall, 1986) and Hardy’s articles and books.
Leading the way in laboratory sustainability; first marine biology institute in UK with LEAF accreditation.
Scientists call on COP26 leaders to listen to the ocean in order to meet climate goals
Celebrating 90 years of the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey
Seventeen times to the moon and back – we’ve set the record for the greatest distance sampled by a marine survey!
Celebrating 60 years of CPR data
Greater synergies and influence for UK environmental science
Dr Therese Coffey, the Minister for Environment tours SAHFOS
SAHFOS analyst, Martina Brunetta, attends the 1st EUROBUS working group meeting at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn of Naples, to discuss the recent European invasion of the copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus
SAHFOS data and research highlighted as part of NASA Image of the Day
What a great 12 months of plankton!
Plankton indicators show us more than just plankton
The Ocean Plastic Lab exhibition, featuring SAHFOS and the CPR Survey is now touring the G7 countries, with the aim of increasing engagement on the issue of plastics in the world's oceans.
Selected by NERC, the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS) has been chosen, as part of a new ‘BLUEPRINT' consortium, to build capacity in public engagement with environmental research across the UK.
A re-modelled indicator originally used by Sir Alister Hardy to collect plankton is to be used by the all-female eXXpedition crew to collect ocean plastic pollution samples on their Round Britain voyage
Innovate UK provides funding for collaboration (including SAHFOS) to develop the first early deduction system to locate invasive non-native species and other harmful components of ships' ballast water
SAHFOS contributes to a major new publication by the UK Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) which demonstrates the important effects climate change is having on UK seas and coastlines.
Learn more about the wide-ranging impacts and activities completed by SAHFOS in 2016. Our latest Annual Report is now available.
SAHFOS researchers are trialling the new FlowCam Macro as part of their involvement with the EU project AtlantOs.
Special session on ocean observing systems at MASTS
New study highlights the importance of long-term ecological monitoring programs
The hidden world of giant viruses discovered in seawater
The journal, Global Change Biology (GCB), has announced a paper, lead by SAHFOS Researcher Professor Chris Reid, was one of their most downloaded in 2016.
Scientists from two of Plymouth’s leading marine science institutes host 2 days of events for children
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Climate change is already reshuffling the UK’s wildlife calendar, and it’s likely this will continue into the future
.
.
.
The 2015 Annual Report is out now. As a showcase of the quantity of research, analysis and projects that have been completed, there are a number of diverse articles inside.
"We demonstrate, based on 72 long time series, that a major change took place in the world centred on 1987 that involved a step change and move to a new regime in a wide range of Earth systems," said Professor Reid.
SAHFOS appoints dynamic new Director SAHFOS, one of the world’s most respected marine science organisations, is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Willie Wilson as its new Director from 1st September 2015. The appointment was made after an international search and selection process.
After several years of being cooler than average, the waters of the NE Pacific have been heating up recently. Whitney (2015) reported spring temperatures deviating 3.5 standard deviations from the long-term mean in the oceanic waters of the NE Pacific, covering the transition zone just south of where the CPR transects run.
When global warming rises above the dangerous threshold of 2°C, between 50 and 70% of the global ocean may experience a change in marine biodiversity.
SAHFOS has been awarded £396,095 to equip its fleet of Continuous Plankton Recorders (CPRs) with state-of-the-art environment sensors that will measure water temperature, salinity, chlorophyll fluorescence, pH and pCO2.
Brittany Ferries kindly tow the CPR once a month on the Roscoff to Plymouth route. The CPR on this route is fitted with a water sampler that collects samples for DNA analysis.
Our Annual Report is now available to read.
Our Ecological status report is now available to view online.
In the wake of a controversial iron fertilisation 'experiment' off the coast of Canada, plankton scientists have noted a higher than average abundance of copepods - crustaceans that form an important food source for many marine creatures higher up food chains, including fish.
The Challenger Conference for Marine Science is taking place on Monday, September 08, 2014
SAHFOS together with AWI is organising a summer school on time series analysis, as a tool to assess the ecological and societal implications of climate change.
Research output from SAHFOS scientists is now available in a new open access repository, the Plymouth Marine Science Electronic Archive (PlyMSEA), which is shared by SAHFOS partners - the Marine Biological Association of the UK (MBA) and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML).
Members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II published their first update in seven years on the scale of impacts, adaptations and vulnerabilities to climate change.