The Marine Biology and Ecology Group is equipped with a multi-use aquarium, a range of world-class experimental laboratories, analytical equipment and associated laboratories, as well as a Research Vessel.
The facilities available are briefly described below and further details are available on each by clicking on the links.
Research Vessel
Our research vessel the R.V. Callista is located at NOCS and is available to all staff and students in the School of Ocean and Earth Science.
Multi-use Aquarium
We have a multi-use aquarium, that houses a variety of aquarium tanks and associated facilities for keeping and handling live organisms. It also houses our pressure lab which enables us to study deep-sea organisms under pressurised conditions, and to study the effect of pressure on the physiology of marine invertebrates. For initial enquiries about our capability or using the aquarium please contact, contact Mr Robbie Robinson.
microROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle)
We operate a microROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) capable of reaching 150 metres depth. It is equipped with SD and HD video cameras, a manipulator and cutting arm, scanning sonar, and an ultrashort-baseline (USBL) acoustic navigation system. The facility is a joint venture with the Natural History Museum and can be deployed from small boats or the shore. The microROV has been used for ecological survey work in the southwest UK, Bahamas, and Iceland, and for marine biology teaching in Southampton Water.
Coral Reef Laboratory
Our Coral Reef Laboratory propogates and studies a broad range of corals and other cnidarians in a multi-compartment aquarium system circulating more than 4200 litres of artificial seawater. Complemented by a coral reef display tank used for propogation and teaching, it supports experimentation under tightly controlled conditions. For further information, contact Prof Jörg Wiedenmann.
Biodiversity and Environmental Futures Laboratories
Our Biodiversity and Environmental Futures Laboratories is a modular experimental facility that allows us to investigate the impacts of future climate conditions and anthropogenic disturbance on marine invertebrate behaviour and biogeochemical sediment processes. Our systems can tightly, and dynamically control a range of environmental variables for studying the effects of climate warming, ocean acidification, hypoxia and light pollution. For further information, contact Prof Martin Solan or Dr Jasmin Godbold.