Mesocosms
Mesocosms
Existing mesocosm facilities based at NIOO-KNAW, University of Leiden(external link), Radboud University(external link) and Wageningen University and Research(external link) target different aspects of aquatic ecosystems. By combining efforts through SEFAP, we boost the capacity of aquatic experimental research to conduct research across different levels of control and complexity.
NIOO mesocosms
Limnotrons: 900L indoor tanks that can be heated and cooled, flushed, illuminated and dosed with a variety of pollutants will be extended from 12 to 24 tanks and be fully equipped with integrated sensor and actuator systems for high resolution measurements of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, light intensity, chlorophyll a and underwater imaging. https://nioo.knaw.nl/en/facilities/limnotrons
Aquaflex arena: A set of XXX outdoor XXL mesocosms that provide high replication and can be equipped with mobile interchangeable sensors. https://nioo.knaw.nl/en/facilities/aqua-flex-arena-outdoor-mesocosms
Living lab (Leiden University)
36 outdoor ditches (30 -60 cm deep x 80 cm width x 9 m length) and a field laboratory are connected to a watershed allowing aquatic biota to naturally colonize. The SEFAP upgrade will integrate flow-through linked ditches with nature-inclusive banks and terrestrial fields enabling terrestrial-aquatic pollutant fluxes and effects to be studied and the installation of 6 autonomous samplers will be installed for undisturbed sampling of surface-water eDNA.
Radboud experimental garden (Radboud University)
3 sets of mesocosms, consisting of 750L outdoor tanks, with 16, 20 or 24 replicates in each set. For SEFAP, an additional 24-tank system will be set up. This will be equipped with sensors for high resolution measurements of temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen. To boost greenhouse gas research, an automated gas-flux sampling system will be installed, in addition to the application of CO2 sensors (developed by RU TechnoCentre), bubble traps, porewater samplers and sedimentary redox probes. https://www.ru.nl/over-ons/de-campus/gebouwen-en-ruimtes/kassencomplex-en-proeftuin
Sinderhoeve facility (Wageningen University and Research)
One of the largest aquatic mesocosm facilities in Europe, encompassing laboratories (the ‘Sinderhuis’), 7 hectares of arable land, 20 experimental ditches (40 x 3.3 x 0.5 m), 80 experimental ponds (28 x 2.2 m ⌀, 0.8 m depth; 32 x 1.2 m ⌀, 0.7 m depth; 20 x 1.4 m length, 1.2 m width x 0.8 m depth), 24 ponds with three different depths in each pond (0.2, 0.5, 0.9 m), 30 lysimeters (1.4 x 1.4 x 2.5 m) and 48 enclosures (1.05 m ⌀; height: 0.9 or 1.3 m). SEFAP will construct 30 new ponds with a land-to-water connection, 3 new flowing stream systems with adjustable flow, and 20 salt water marsh microcosms. Instrumentation upgrades will include water flow meters, fluorometers and portable eDNA sampling devices. https://www.wur.nl/nl/onderzoek/faciliteiten/sinderhoeve