Thomas Davidson

Erik Jeppesen

outdoor – pelagic/benthic – freshwater

24 cylindrical outdoor mesocosms, each 2.8 m3 in volume

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The Lake Mesocosm Warming Experiment (LMWE) is a unique long-term (with 16 years so far the world’s longest running) flow-through mesocosm experiment addressing climate-change effects on lakes under contrasting nutrient levels and water clarity. Twenty-four cylindrical outdoor mesocosms are used, each with a capacity of 2.8 m3. The mesocosms receive groundwater 6 times per day, resulting in a theoretical water retention time of 2.5 months. Water in the mesocosms is continuously mixed by paddles and heated by electrical elements. Three temperature regimes are run: ambient temperature and two elevated temperatures according to IPPC climate scenarios A2 and A2 + 50%, down-scaled to local 25 25 km grid cells. The modelled temperature difference for the A2 scenario is generally higher in August to January (max. 4.4 °C in September) than during the rest of the year (min. 2.5 °C in June). Individual mesocosms of each temperature regime are run at either low or high nutrient concentrations (4 replicates per treatment). The latter are obtained by weekly dosing of N and P.

Located 15 km from AU Silkeborg, the facility is equipped with a small lab building to facilitate accessory small-scale studies and analyses. A fully equipped lab is available at the AU freshwater central lab in Silkeborg. The mesocosm facility is part of the Danish AnaEE project and it is also included in the European AnaEE list of experimental facilities for ESFRI.

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<div class="photo-credit">The Lake Mesocosm Warming Experiment (LMWE), photo and schematic, in Denmark.</div>
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The Department of Bioscience, **Aarhus University (AU)** comprises >15 research groups and about 500 staff members and carries out basic research and strategic research as well as research-based consultancy services on all aspects of aquatic sciences. AU furthermore runs the national survey program on aquatic ecosystems. AU has conducted numerous small to large scale experiments, as well as whole lake/stream experiments on many continents during the past 20 years and are probably the aquatic group with most experienced in field experiments in the world. They collaborate with more than 120 research groups from all parts of the world.

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Aarhus University

Silvia Mohr

Fabian König

Rene Sahm

Outdoor and indoor pond and stream system. The facility comprises 8 indoor and 8 outdoor ponds and streams, the latter of 1.6 km total length (indoor + outdoor). Water bodies are large enough to carry all trophic levels including fish

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The Artificial Stream and Pond System (FSA) of the German Environment Agency (UBA) is a large and technically sophisticated experimental facility in Berlin. It comprises 8 outdoor and 8 indoor streams (100 m length, water volume of 40 m3 each), 8 outdoor and 8 indoor ponds (water volume of 60 m3 each) and associated equipment. In addition the facility comprises 18 small indoor ponds (water volume of 1 m3 each) and 8 small indoor stream channels (water volume of 2 m3 each). Special features that make the facility unique in Europe are it’s modular design (variable stream length, possibility to connect ponds and streams), an outdoor and indoor system and the ability to simulate flowing and stagnant waters. Further, the large size enables tests on all trophic levels including fish. The site offers water qualities from ground to waste water, and adjustment of variable flow velocities (0.02-0.5m/s). Additionally, there are options between riffle and pool sections in stream mesocosms, between terrestrial and littoral zone in pond mesocosms and the inclusion of pore-water sampling devices in ponds.

Each stream and pond is equipped with online instruments to continuously measure conductivity, O2, pH, water level, temperature, turbidity and, in streams, flow velocity. Computer controlled LED lightening (4 channels) is installed over the pond systems. Chemical variables such as contaminants, sediment and biota can be measured in the laboratory. FSA is well equipped with gas chromatograph-mass spectrometers (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), HPLC, TOC analyser, automatic titration units, Ion Chromatograph (IC), continuous nutrient flow analyser, etc. In addition, light conditions in and above the water of streams and ponds, chlorophyll a and phaeopigments, and many other biological variables are routinely analysed. All experimental data are fed into a central data base for quality checks and analysis. The data entry from defined analysis protocols (e.g. physico-chemical data) is automated. The database user programme is independent of system software and is available on the internet.

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<div class="photo-credit">Artificial Stream and Pond System: Outdoor (l) and indoor flumes (r) in Germany. Photos: UBA</div>
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The **UBA is a federal agency**, which supports the Federal Environment Ministry also by own research activities in order to develop concepts and provisions, give advice to the public or other organisations and work in national and international committees. The Chemical Safety Division tests chemicals and compounds in its own laboratories, making use of the results to carry out evaluations. The research they do provides answers to questions concerning, for example, the environmental behaviour of chemicals in the environment. The laboratory test results are also used for the environmental review that is enshrined in chemicals laws. These duties are closely linked to those, which the UBA carries out in the enforcement of chemicals laws (REACH, Plant Protection Act, Pharmaceutical Act, Biocidal Products Directive) Chemical research provides support to environmental policy and thus distinguishes itself from university and non-university research.

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Umweltbundesamt

Heidrun Feuchtmayr

Stephen Maberly

Outdoor – pelagic/benthic – freshwater

32 cylindrical insulated fibreglass outdoor mesocosms, each 1.0 m deep and 2.0 m in diameter (3000 L) arranged in four rows with eight mesocosms in each and 3 fibreglass tanks 1.0 m deep and 4.0 m in diameter (12000 L). The site was built in 2011 and is located around 2 miles from the CEH office.

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The CEH Aquatic Mesocosm Facility (CAMF) comprises 32 cylindrical insulated fibreglass outdoor mesocosms, each 1.0m deep and 2.0m in diameter (3000 l and 3 large fibreglass tanks 1.0m deep and 4.0m in diameter (12000 l) The latter are mainly used as storage reservoir for water and various freshwater species. The site was built in 2011 and is located 2 miles from the UKCEH office. Electric heating elements are placed in each mesocosm to allow for climate warming experiments. Temperature in warmed mesocosms can be increased by up to 5 °C above the ambient water temperatures, controlled by a custom computer program. To prevent thermal stratification, purpose-built mixers suspended in the middle of the mesocosm, can be moved slowly up and down through the water column and can be operated on different mixing regimes. All mesocosms are equipped with automatic sensors measuring temperature, dissolved oxygen and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) every 5 minutes. A weather station within the mesocosm compound measures wind speed and direction, precipitation, air temperature, barometric pressure and relative humidity. All data is logged at five-minute intervals and directly transferred to a server. The site has been used for various climate change experiments, focussing on multiple stressors, such as brownification, warming, eutrophication and extreme rainfall events on freshwater communities.

Equipment is housed in a laboratory on site available for storage, working space and sample preparation. There is tap water access as well as raw water supply from a nearby reservoir. Fully equipped laboratories (including a FlowCam and microscopes with image analysis systems) are available at UKCEH Lancaster, housing the UKCEH Centralised Analytical Chemistry Group, maintaining high standards of quality control and UKAS-accredited to ISO17025. Various multiprobes are available for fieldwork: DS5X, EXO2, AlgaeTorch.

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<div class="photo-credit">CEH Aquatic Mesocosm Facility (CAMF): 32 outdoor tanks in the UK. Photos: H. Feuchtmayr.</div>
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<p>The Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology (CEH) is a component of the <strong>UK Research and Innovation</strong> (UKRI) and the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), and is the UK’s Centre of Excellence for integrated research into terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, and their interaction with the atmosphere. An integrated science structure allows effective communication of over 300 CEH science staff. The Lake Ecosystems Group is a productive team with extensive expertise on the physics, chemistry, biology and ecology of lake systems, and with a diverse research method portfolio that includes monitoring, experimentation, process and empirical modelling and molecular ecology. CEH hosts the Environmental Information Data Centre (EIDC), the UK national data centre for terrestrial and freshwater sciences. The EIDC provides services across the range of scientific communities and accepts environmental data in re-usable formats for curation, including long-term storage and public dissemination. The EIDC is an issuing agent for DataCite DOIs and has a DOI policy.</p>

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United Kingdom Research and Innovation

Csaba Vad

Zsófia Horváth

Mobile outdoor facility, with 40 (300-litre each) + 96 mesocosms (220-litre each).

Heating is available on-site.

Possibility to carry out in situ experiments (within natural ponds or lakes).

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Paraskevi Pitta

Iordanis Magiopoulos

**outdoor – pelagic/benthic – marine**

12 polyethylene mesocosm-bags up to 5 m3 (1.32 m diameter) incubated in two large volume concrete tanks (one with volume 150 m³ and 3 m depth and a second one with volume 350 m³ and 5 m depth)

9 benthocosms combining water column (1.5 m3, 4 m deep, 0.64 m diameter) and sediment (85 L) in the same polyethylene mesocosm-bag

The smaller (150 m³) tank is equipped by a sophisticated, fully-automated heating/cooling water system with electric valves, resistances and temperature sensors that allow water heating/cooling and temperature control at ±0.5 ºC of targeted temperature

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CretaCosmos facility is part of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) in Crete. It is the only place in Europe where truly oligotrophic marine conditions can be studied in a well-controlled mesocosm facility. The CretaCosmos facility includes 12 pelagic mesocosms (3 m3) and 9 benthocosms, which are incubated in two large temperature-controlled concrete tanks (150 m3 volume – 3 m depth, and 350 m3 volume – 5 m depth). The pelagic mesocosms are low-density polyethylene bags of 1.32 m diameter, enclosing 3 m3 of water. The benthocosms are low-density polyethylene bags 0.64 m in diameter and 4.5 m high. They hold 1.5 m3 of water and a container with 85 L of sediment at the bottom. The smaller (150 m3) tank is equipped with a fully automated heating/ cooling system that allows temperature manipulation and control within ±0.5 oC of target temperature. Environmental variables (temperature, light, etc.) are monitored via in situ sensors. To fill the mesocosms, Eastern Mediterranean water is collected aboard the R/V Philia. The possibility to control and manipulate water temperature allows running climate- change experiments. The benthocosms, containing a relatively large sediment volume as well as a water column of 4 m height, open the possibility to run experiments on benthic-pelagic coupling under conditions close to the real coastal environment. In addition, the two large-volume concrete tanks can be used to test large instruments, sensors and more. The mesocosm facility is complemented by modern laboratories: chemical lab to analyse nutrients; radio-isotope lab (14C,3H,33P) to measure primary and bacterial production and phosphorus uptake; culture lab equipped with an autoclave, laminar-flow cabinet, incubator, etc.; several general-purpose labs and a constant-temperature room. Plankton and microbial analysis equipment includes two flow cytometers, inverted and epifluorescence microscopes with an automated image analysis system and stereoscopes. Several laboratory equipment (centrifuges, analytical balances, baths, fridge and freezers (-80°C), several liquid N2 dewars, etc) is also available. The facility is also supported by an automotive lab, an inflatable zodiac, and the R/V Philia. An auditorium and several seminar and meeting rooms are available to host regular meetings of the TA participants throughout the experiments.

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<div class="photo-credit">CretaCosmos facility (left), scheme of benthocosms (middle), see Dimitriou et al. (2017), in situ oil burning and soot collection construction used in the mesocosm experiment 2018 (right). Photos: P. Pitta.</div>
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The **Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR)** is the national research and advisory body for the marine environment, aquaculture and fisheries. It carries out scientific and technological research, in the fields of study and protection of the hydrosphere, its organisms, its interface with the atmosphere, the coast and the sea bottom. The Institute of Oceanography (IO) is one out of three HCMR’s Institutes. IO has a long experience of over 40 years in the multidisciplinary study and the long term monitoring of the physical, chemical, biological and geological processes that govern the structure, functioning and evolution of pelagic and benthic ecosystems in the ultra- oligotrophic environment of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. IO participates in several Research Infrastructure EU Projects.

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Hellenic Centre for Marine Research

Nadine Taylor

Hanna Schuster

**Outdoor freshwater static mesocosm systems.**

We have 99 flat bottomed and 100 unique sloped mesocosms which are designed to simulate edge of field environments. Our sloped mesocosms were installed in 2013, are 2.6 m long, 1 m wide and 0.7 m deep and are used for herbicide studies. The sloped mesocosms are designed to enable the incorporation of a wide variety of plant species, providing a habitat which mimics the plant community found in edge of field environments. Our flat bottomed mesocosms were installed in 2009, are 1.8 m long, 0.9 m wide and 0.8 m deep and are predominantly used in pesticide studies.

**Indoor laboratories.**

We have a GLP laboratory facility in which we can carry out higher tier chronic testing on multiple and single species under controlled conditions.

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Cambridge Environmental Assessments (CEA) as part of RSK ADAS Ltd is a multi- disciplinary research and consultancy group, providing higher tier risk assessment and novel experimental studies to commercial and Government organisations. RSK hold a long-established, 199 mesocosm, certified facility, with a strong reputation for testing on multiple and single species can be carried out under controlled conditions as well as a microscopy lab for taxonomic identification of organism samples.

performing studies to regulatory standards. Mesocosms include 99 flat bottomed and 100 unique sloped mesocosms which are designed to simulate edge of field environments. Our sloped mesocosms were installed in 2013, are 2.6 m long, 1 m wide and 0.7 m deep and are used for herbicide studies. The sloped mesocosms are designed to enable the incorporation of a wide variety of plant species, providing a habitat which mimics the plant community found in edge of field environments. Our flat bottomed mesocosms were installed in 2009, are 1.8 m long, 0.9 m wide and 0.8 m deep and are predominantly used in pesticide studies. RSK have a laboratory facility in which higher tier chronic testing on multiple and single species can be carried out under controlled conditions as well as a microscopy lab for taxonomic identification of organism samples.

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**Cambridge Environmental Assessments (CEA)** (part of RSK ADAS Ltd) is a research and consultancy group, providing higher tier risk assessment and novel experimental studies to commercial and government organisations. We have a dedicated higher tier aquatic ecotoxicology group, with proven expertise in designing and developing non- standard, higher tier tests for investigating the effects of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

In particular, CEA hold a long-established, 199 mesocosm, GLP-certified facility, with a strong reputation for performing mesocosm studies to regulatory standards. Studies conducted at CEA aim to mimic communities residing in edge-of-field waterbodies and are routinely used to assess risks of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) under realistic conditions to form part of the higher tier aquatic risk assessment in the EU registration process.

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Rsk Adas Limited

Jose González

Damián Costas

- 70 m3 tank to allocate 9 polyethylene mesocosms bags (1m in diameter, 2m depth).
- 12 benthic mesocosm (0.7 m3) with tide simulation and controlled temperature and salinity.
- Floating platform with 6 floating rings for mesocosms bags (1 m diameter).


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 ECIMAT-Mesocosms are located at Toralla island Marine Research Station (CIM-University of Vigo), in the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain). This area of the Atlantic coast is characterized by an upwelling-downwelling regime, in which upwelling events are more frequent from March to September. ECIMAT-M consist of land-based facilities, renovated in 2021, that include real-time monitored benthic and pelagic mesocosms. Twelve 0.7 m3 soft-bottom benthic mesocosms are available, with a tide simulation system and temperature and salinity control throughout the tidal cycle. For pelagic mesocosms, this facility includes a 70 m3 concrete tank, with natural seawater circulation, to allocate up to 9 mesocosms (1m in diameter, 2m depth). Temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH are measured with a 10-minutes frequency in each experimental tank.

Floating platforms for in-situ pelagic mesocosms (1m diameter, 1-2m depth) are also available, to allocate up to 6 mesocosms bags, as well as microcosms and incubation tanks.

This mesocosms facility is complemented by the <a href= "https://cim.uvigo.gal/ecimat/portal-de-reservas/en/" target=“_blank”>services and working spaces of ECIMAT marine station</a>, that include multiple laboratories (from microscopy lab to cultures lab). Isothermal chambers are available for experimentation as well as different options for samples preservation, from fridges or freezers (-20ºC and -80ºC) to liquid nitrogen cryopreservation. Several boats are also available at the marine station, as well as diving service for samples collection at the sea.

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The University of Vigo which currently has 21000 students is one of Spain ́s main agents in Marine Research, and the leader of the International Excellence Campus of the Sea “Campusdomar” which brings together socio-economic agents and marine researchers from the Galicia-Northern Portugal Euroregion. The Toralla Marine Science Station (ECIMAT) is the University of Vigo ́s marine research station. It functions as a Core Technical Facility providing marine research facilities and services to more than 3000 services per year to 250 researchers both from the University of Vigo and from other public and private institutions. ECIMAT provides access to Ecosystems, Marine Biological Resources and Advanced Laboratories as well as Mesocosms Facilities and Aquaria for Marine Research. ECIMAT ́s management system is based on user service and continuous improvement and the whole system and its services are certified under ISO 9001:2015.

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University of Vigo

Jeremy Piggott (TCD PI and TA)

Mary Kelly-Quinn (UCD PI)

Sam Macaulay (TA) 

<p>The <em>ExStream System</em> comprises 128 circular stream mesocosms offering strict control of experimental variables, excellent statistical power and a high degree of realism, such as permitting natural immigration and emigration of stream organisms (invertebrates, algae and microbes) and achieving the same ambient temperature, light conditions and water chemistry as the adjoining river/stream. The mesocosms are arranged in eight blocks of 16 units each, and each of these blocks is continuously supplied by stream water gravity-fed from one of eight header tanks via 16 individual supply pipes.</p>
<p>The facility is mobile, currently housed in University College Dublin.</p>
<p>The Experimental Stream mesocosm network (<em>ExStream</em>) comprises replicate installations in New Zealand, China, Japan, Germany and Ireland and is coordinated by <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/Zoology/research/groups/piggott/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asst. Prof. Jeremy J. Piggott</a> at Trinity College Dublin (jeremy.piggott@tcd.ie).  </p>

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The ExStream System Ireland comprises 128 circular stream mesocosms offering strict control of experimental variables, excellent statistical power and a high degree of realism, such as permitting natural immigration and emigration of stream organisms (invertebrates, algae and microbes) and achieving the same ambient temperature, light conditions and water chemistry as the adjoining river/stream. The mesocosms are arranged in eight blocks of 16 units each, and each of these blocks is continuously supplied by stream water gravity-fed from one of eight header tanks via 16 individual supply pipes. The ExStream System Ireland is a collaboration between PIs in <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trinity College Dublin</a> (Jay Piggott) and <a href="https://www.ucd.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University College Dublin</a> (Mary Kelly-Quinn). It can manipulate water temperature, nutrient concentrations, current velocity, flow, light/shade and substratum among other variables. It is particularly well-suited to full-factorial or gradient response experiments of one or more experimental factors. The system has been used successfully in several major experiments, including manipulations of nutrients, sediment and water temperature simulating climate-change and land-use scenarios.

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![ExStream Ireland 2022 setup diagram](https://storage.googleapis.com/aq-cms-content/Ex_Str22_setup_resized_5047371a29/Ex_Str22_setup_resized_5047371a29.jpg)

<div class="photo-credit">ExStream System Ireland setup</div> 
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**Trinity College Dublin (TCD)** is the number one ranked university in Ireland (THES 2019, QS 2019), and is ranked 104th in the world and a member of the prestigious League of European Research Universities. Founded in 1592, Trinity is at the nexus of tradition and innovation, offering it’s 17,000 strong student buddy programmes across 24 schools and three faculties. The School of Natural Sciences, comprising the Disciplines of Botany, Geography, Geology and Zoology, the Centre for the Environment and the Centre for Biodiversity Research, is one of the largest schools in the Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Science and hosts biological, physical and social scientists. The School currently accommodates 40 academic staff, ca. 18 postdoctoral research fellows and ca. 164 post-graduate students. The School of Natural Sciences is one of the first in Ireland to hold an Athena SWAN bronze award for addressing issues in gender inequality.

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Trinity College Dublin

Stella Berger

Jens Nejstgaard

**Outdoor – pelagic/benthic – freshwater**

24 large lake mesocosms, each 9 m diameter, 20 m depth, reaching into the sediment, water volume 1,270 m3 per mesocosm, one additional central unit 30 m diameter, volume 14,000 m3

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The LakeLab in the deep clear-water Lake Stechlin, NE Germany, consists of 24 cylindrical enclosures encompassing large water volumes of 1270 m3 (9m diameter, 20m depth) each. The special features of the LakeLab are the unique combination of large size and number of mesocosms enable multi- factorial designs and new research perspectives, including testing of large instruments and calibration opportunities (e.g. remote sensing) not possible in most mesocoms. Further, flexible curtains attached to aluminium floats extending into the sediment enable experiments on benthic-pelagic coupling also during winter, including manipulation of ice and snow coverage. Water renewal by special high-throughput impeller pumps (100 m3/h) minimise disturbance of plankton and provide excellent tools to manipulate mixing regimes and stratification patterns. Gases (N2, CO2, CH4) and solutes can be injected in air-lift systems, whereas application of xenobiotics or introduction of foreign species is precluded. All 24 units of the LakeLab are equipped with automated sensors mounted on vertical profilers recording water-quality parameters at high-resolution: PAR, pressure, temperature, pH, conductivity, O2 and chlorophyll.  Four identical profilers are deployed in the lake at the LakeLab. All profilers are controlled by industrial computers collecting and transmitting data in real-time to a central data base server. The LakeLab is in close proximity to well-equipped laboratories of IGB’s Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, located directly on the lakeshore. Quick boat access (<5 min) to the laboratories facilitates prompt analyses of delicate live samples. Laboratories include radioisotope lab (14C,3H,33P,35S), molecular S1 labs, walk-in climate rooms, and standard labs. Analytical instruments include autoanalysers for nutrients, ion chromatograph, UV-Vis spectrophotometers, fluorospectrophotometer, fluorimeter, TOC/TON analyser, CNHS analyser, CaCO3 analyser, GCs, HPLCs, ultracentrifuge, flow cytometers, FlowCAMs, picture based flow cytometer, zooplankton scanner, software for picture recognition and machine learning approaches, scanning electron microscopes, bright-field, epifluorescence and inverted microscopes, image analysis systems, other standard laboratory equipment and field gear (multiprobes, plankton nets, sedimentation traps, sediment corers, layer sampler, underwater video system, IFCB). The long-term monitoring programme on Lake Stechlin provides background data on water chemistry, phyto- and zooplankton, fish, primary and bacterial secondary production. Meteorological data are recorded by the German Environment Agency on site.

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<div class="photo-credit">Aerial view of the LakeLab in Lake Stechlin at twilight during a “skyglow” experiment and LakeLab team in 2018. Photos: © V. Crone & H. Krückeberg 2018; M. Bauchrowitz, IGB.</div>
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<p>The <strong>Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei</strong> (FVB-IGB) is a research institute of the Leibniz Association and member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB; www.bbib.org). FVB-IGB is dedicated to generating, disseminating and applying knowledge about freshwater ecosystems (<a href="http://www.igb-berlin.de"target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.igb-berlin.de</a>). Working in close partnership with the scientific community, agencies and the private sector, FVB-IGB seeks to advance basic science and develop innovative solutions to pressing problems facing fresh waters and humans.</p> 

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Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. - Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei

Miguel B. Araújo

Gonçalo Camarinhas

**outdoor - pelagic/benthic - freshwater**

192 mesocosms deployed across six regions. The mesocosms consist of 1000-L tanks that mimic small ponds. In each location, there are 32 mesocosms installed ca. 3-5 meters apart.

The Iberian Pond Network (IPN) was established in 2014 to investigate ecological responses to climate change across bioclimatic regions. This innovative infrastructure includes a range of environments from semi-arid conditions to mountaintops. A total of 192 mesocosms, each 0.70 m deep and 1.85 m in diameter, are deployed across 6 regions on the Iberian Peninsula. Locations include semi-arid, Mediterranean, temperate and alpine environments. This distribution of sites along a climatic gradient over a large area is expected to provide insights into effects of climate change, biogeography, biotic interactions, biodiversity and ecosystem processes in pond food webs. At each location, 32 mesocosms with a volume of 1000 l each are located at ca. 3-5 m distance from one another. The mesocosms are equipped with an automated system controlling temperature and water level, thus enabling simulations of future climatic conditions. The mesocosms were set-up and initiated by adding 100 kg of locally collected topsoil, then filled with local water. All mesocosms have been left untouched until 2019 to allow establishment of aquatic food webs, but can from now on be used for a variety of climate change manipulations, which can take the form of warming experiments, space-for-time substitutions across the network, or a combination of both. In addition, the IPN can be used for studies addressing fundamental questions relating to spatial patterns of community composition and function at biogeographical scales. The mesocosms were originally established with funds from the European Structural Funds and are currently used in 6 research projects, the EC funded AQUACOSM project, 3 funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, the 2 others through the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the UK National Environmental Research Council.

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<div class="photo-credit">Iberian Ponds Network is a multi-site infrastructure distributed across 6 locations spanning representative environmental gradients within Iberia: Arid, Mediterranean, Temperate and Alpine environments (left). Colours on the map represent temperature gradients across Iberia. Toledo (right).</div>
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Facilities

Transnational Access

Metadata & Data

Papers & Reports

Knowledge Base

Mesocosms

AQUACOSM & AQUACOSM-plus facilities

AU Lake Mesocosm Warming Experiment (LMWE)

Artificial Stream and Pond System (FSA)

CEH Aquatic Mesocosm Facility (CAMF)

CER Mesocosms

CRETACOSMOS

Cambridge Environmental Assessments (CEA)

Estación de Ciencias Mariñas de Toralla (ECIMAT)

ExStream System Ireland

IGB LakeLab

Iberian Pond Network (IPN)

KOB (Kiel-Outdoor-Benthocosms)

KOSMOS (Kiel Off-Shore Mesocosms for Ocean Simulations)

LIFE Infrastructure - ECP Facility

LIFE Infrastructure – PEARL facility

LMU Mesocosms

Limnotrons

Lunz Mesocosm Infrastructure (LMI)

MEDIMEER (MEDIterranean platform for Marine Ecosystem Experimental Research)

METU Mesocosm System

Mesocosm Facility at Umeå Marine Sciences Center (MF-UMSC)

NORCE Marine Research Center in Mekjarvik (NORCE-MRC)

National Experimental Platform in Aquatic Ecology (PLANAQUA)

Planktotrons

SITES AquaNet

SYKE-MRC (Marine Research Centre) Mesocosm Facility

Silwood Mesocosm Facility (SMF)

Solbergstrand Experimental Facility (SEF)

Tvärminne Mesocosm Facility (TMF)

UiB Mesocosm Centre (University of Bergen Mesocosm Centre)