Marine heatwaves threaten important marine species in British waters

Green Gravel Kelp Spore Collection

Marine species such as seagrasses, kelps, bivalves and corals play a crucial role in the world’s most diverse ecosystems, but they are increasing threatened by marine heatwaves.

When marine heatwaves increase ocean temperatures, it can cause devastating effects for marine life with increased deaths and population declines.

Scientists from the Marine Biological Association’s (MBA) Smale group conducted a series of simulations to test the responses of these important marine species in the Western English Channel.

They found no positive effect of marine heatwaves, but clear negative impacts for some groups of the species.

Read the full, open access paper in the British Ecological Society: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2435.14622