New recordings capturing seahorse courtship rituals and pregnancies have revealed the hidden wonders of Studland Bay’s underwater world.
The discoveries, recorded by volunteer divers, are featured on a new website launched by the Studland Bay Marine Partnership to celebrate and protect the marine life and seagrass meadows.
The seagrass meadows form part of a Marine Conservation Zone and are home to spiny seahorses, and the occasional short-snouted seahorse, both protected under UK law.
Neil Garrick-Maidment, director and founder of The Seahorse Trust, said: "To watch seahorses courting in the wild is one of nature’s great privileges.
"Their dances can last for days and are just one of the remarkable features of this extraordinary species."
The courtship behaviour includes colour changes, synchronised swimming, and tail entwining before the female transfers her eggs into the male’s brood pouch.
This summer, several heavily pregnant males were recorded – they can each give birth to as many as 1,000 fully-formed babies called fry.
Mr Garrick-Maidment said: "We can identify individuals through facial recognition.
"I observed one male with a huge brood pouch, then on the next dive it had gone, so he had obviously given birth.
"Monitoring them helps us better understand their lives and strengthens the case for protecting their habitat.
"We’re delighted that the new website will give more people the opportunity to learn about these fascinating animals and the work being done to safeguard them."
The monitoring programme is organised by the University of Southampton, with specialist licences held by The Seahorse Trust.
Cathy Lewis, communications officer for the Studland Bay Marine Partnership and the National Trust, said: "People are often amazed to discover that beneath the surface of Studland Bay is a rich and thriving marine landscape.
"The new website aims to bring that hidden world to life.
"Seahorses capture people’s imagination, but they are just one part of a much bigger story."
Studland Bay was designated as a Voluntary No Anchor Zone in 2021 to protect the seagrass from damage, with eco-moorings now available for boats.
The website also provides practical information for boaters using eco-moorings and guidance for divers on the legal requirements surrounding seahorse photography.
Dr Ken Collins, Emeritus Research Fellow & Diving Officer at the University of Southampton, said: "The seahorses may be the stars of the show, but they are also indicators of the wider health of the seagrass ecosystem."
For more information, visit the Studland Bay Marine Partnership website.
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