Experimental Mesocosm Facility

The Aquatic Biology Program maintains an 8000 ft2 facility in the Bevill building for experiments which require controlled conditions. Within the facility are 8 separate rooms plus a preparation area. All rooms receive natural sunlight, but each room is also outfitted with 6 sodium and 6 mercury-vapor lamps to extend photoperiods. Each room has independently operated shade controls, ventilation, cooling and heating. Each room contains stream or wetland simulation modules for use in experimental designs which call for greater scale than can be achieved on the bench-top, but require environmental control not available at field scales. The system is a custom design produced by Frigid Units, Toledo, OH. Each module may be arranged to simulate flowing water, or contain up to three segments that simulate lentic habitats. Water volumes may range from 25 to 65 ft3. Each module is fitted with a heating/chilling unit for control of water temperature and paddle wheel /motor for generating current.