A soft-bottom sublittoral mesocosm by the Oslofjord: description, performance and examples of application
Berge, J.; Schaanning, M.; Bakke, T.; Sandøy, K.A.; Skeie, G.M.; Ambrose Jr., W.G. (1986). A soft-bottom sublittoral mesocosm by the Oslofjord: description, performance and examples of application, in: Muus, K. (Ed.) Proceedings of the 20th European Marine Biology Symposium: Nutrient Cycling. Processes in Marine Sediments, Hirtshals, Denmark, 9-13 September 1985. Ophelia: International Journal of Marine Biology, 26: pp. 37-54
In: Muus, K. (Ed.) (1986). Proceedings of the 20th European Marine Biology Symposium: Nutrient Cycling. Processes in Marine Sediments, Hirtshals, Denmark, 9-13 September 1985. European Marine Biology Symposia, 20. Ophelia: International Journal of Marine Biology, 26. ISBN 87-981066-4-3. 477 pp., more
In: European Marine Biology Symposia., more
|
| Available in | Authors |
|
Document type: Conference paper
|
| Authors | | Top |
- Berge, J., more
- Schaanning, M., more
- Bakke, T.
|
- Sandøy, K.A.
- Skeie, G.M.
- Ambrose Jr., W.G.
|
|
| Abstract |
Controlled experiments and detailed studies of behaviour in the subtidal require diving, submersible vessels or instruments placed in situ. These methods often limit experimental design. Furthermore, experiments with toxic chemicals in the field may not be possible due to lack of dosage control, environmental consequences, and public welfare. Such problems can be overcome by the use of mesocosms. In this paper a soft-bottom mesocosm in the Oslofjord, Norway is described. The mesocosm consists of two indoor basins each with a surface area of 100 m² and a maximum water depth of 1.7 m. Each basin is divided into three compartments. Soft-bottom sediment sections were collected in the field by a modified USNEL box-corer (0.25 m²). The sediment was transferred to boxes and brought into the mesocosm. The water level in the mesocosm can be lowered so that the sediment surfaces are easily accessible for sampling, manipulation, inspection, or measurements requiring equipment or techniques not compatible with field conditions. The performance of the mesocosm in terms of pore-water chemistry, bacterial production, sedimentation, animal recruitment and mortality are compared to field conditions. Examples of application of the system are given. It is concluded that the mesocosm provides unique experimental conditions for biological, chemical and physical experiments on subtidal soft-sediment communities. |
|
