however, compromised gill health, collectively termed complex gill disease (CGD) remains a major constraint on productivity and animal welfare. CGD is driven by multiple interacting biological and environmental stressors, yet the mechanistic basis of these interactions is poorly resolved. This knowledge gap is increasingly significant in the context of ocean warming, where shifting plankton communities and elevated summer temperatures are altering biotic exposure regimes while simultaneously reducing host physiological resilience. CGD encompasses a spectrum of gill pathologies, including epithelial hyperplasia, lamellar fusion, cellular anomalies, and oedema. While progress has been made in standardising histopathological scoring frameworks, robust links between observed pathology and specific causative agents particularly planktonic taxa and their molecular effectors remain lacking. This project will apply an integrated experimental framework combining in vivo challenge models with in vitro cellular assays to resolve interactions between marine plankton and gill health. A novel gill exposure experimental system will utilise environmentally sourced plankton, with a focus on hydroids and micro-jellyfish, to replicate ecologically realistic challenge conditions. These experiments will be conducted in parallel with longitudinal field sampling at commercial aquaculture sites, enabling direct comparison between controlled exposures and in situ dynamics across spatially replicated systems. Informal enquiries are encouraged! For further information please contact Professor Sam Martin (sam.martin@abdn.ac.uk).

however, compromised gill health, collectively termed complex gill disease (CGD) remains a major constraint on productivity and animal welfare. CGD is driven by multiple interacting biological and environmental stressors, yet the mechanistic basis of these interactions is poorly resolved. This knowledge gap is increasingly significant in the context of ocean warming, where shifting plankton communities and elevated summer temperatures are altering biotic exposure regimes while simultaneously reducing host physiological resilience. CGD encompasses a spectrum of gill pathologies, including epithelial hyperplasia, lamellar fusion, cellular anomalies, and oedema. While progress has been made in standardising histopathological scoring frameworks, robust links between observed pathology and specific causative agents particularly planktonic taxa and their molecular effectors remain lacking. This project will apply an integrated experimental framework combining in vivo challenge models with in vitro cellular assays to resolve interactions between marine plankton and gill health. A novel gill exposure experimental system will utilise environmentally sourced plankton, with a focus on hydroids and micro-jellyfish, to replicate ecologically realistic challenge conditions. These experiments will be conducted in parallel with longitudinal field sampling at commercial aquaculture sites, enabling direct comparison between controlled exposures and in situ dynamics across spatially replicated systems. Informal enquiries are encouraged! For further information please contact Professor Sam Martin (sam.martin@abdn.ac.uk).