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In print, Dolphins on our doorstep, Marine news roundup, Training weekends, Ain’t no ocean wide enough not the case for soft corals.
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April 2017 Newsletter

Dolphins on our Doorstep


We're currently raising funding for an exciting new citizen scientist project in Lyme Bay; home to a fantastic diversity of marine species, such as White-Beaked Dolphins, and critically endangered Balearic Shearwaters. 

The aim of the project, Dolphins on our Doorstep: MARINElife Jurassic Coast Citizen Science Project, is to enthuse and engage coastal communities in the area over their local dolphin population. But to get it off the ground, we need your help! We're interested in hearing from individuals, businesses, or organisations, who could provide us with office space, or who would be interested in supporting the project.

To find out more about the project, and how you could get involved, check out our website.

In Print



Two of our researchers, Tom Bereton and Rachel Davies, were involved in a study of bottlenose dolphins, which was recently published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

The findings of the study point to there being more bottlenose dolphins in the English Channel than previously thought. In addition, the study highlighted there being three separate populations inhabiting the waters off southern England.

You can read an overview of their findings here, as well as link to the full article if you have an institute account.

Marine News Roundup


In the world of marine life, some interesting questions were answered this month, including:

Why do jumplings jump?

Do whales get colds?

How did baleen whales lose their teeth?

Who eats more, spiders or whales?

How will changing ocean chemistry effect cetacean communications?

What’s been going on with the Devon humpback?

What’s been going on with the Devon humpback part II?

Be sure to keep up to date with important marine life news by following us on social media.

Training Weekends


At present, we've two more confirmed training days coming up. However, we’re in the process of securing a date for a training course in partnership with Northumberland Wildlife Trust, so keep your eyes peeled on social media for an update soon.

Saturday 6th May with Suffolk Wildlife Trust at Carlton Marshes, Carlton Colville, Lowerstoft Saturday 5th August with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at the Living Seas Centre, Flamborough

See our website for more information and booking details.

Also, we still have two places left in the men’s dorm on our 5-day Lundy Experience. With activities such as rock pooling, a snorkel safari, seal surveying, guided walks, and a sea watch, it’s an experience not to be missed. To secure your place, email bookings@marine-life.org.uk

In Other News: Ain’t no ocean wide enough not the case for soft corals


"Eunicella verrucosa" by Matthieu Sontag/CC BY 2.0

Sometimes it’s easy to think of our seas as one big homogeneous mass of water. Apart from the occasional rocky outcrop, or isolated island, the waters around the UK appear, from above, to be one connected volume.

However, recent research on soft corals has shown that this is not the case, and unseen barriers as formidable as any mountain range, or vast river, are separating groups of animals so effectively, they’re becoming separate species. In the case of soft corals, genetic differences have been discovered between pink sea fans living off north-west Ireland, south-west Britain, and north-west France.

As yet, the cause of this genetic division isn’t fully understood, but these initial findings could have implications when it comes to creating Marine Protected Areas in the future, because to safeguard the full range of diversity of marine species, each species will need protection in multiple locations.

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