Mesocosm > Mesocosms > Germany > AWI Sylt Outdoor Mesocosms (AWISOM)

AWI Sylt Outdoor Mesocosms (AWISOM)

General information

Name
AWI Sylt Outdoor Mesocosms (AWISOM)
Legal name of organisation
Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research Wadden Sea Station Sylt
Country
Germany
Continent
Europe
Organisation address

Hafenstrasse 43

25992 List

Germany

Primary contact information (PI)

Dr. Lisa Shama

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Years of Mesocosm Experiments
2013 - present
Description of Facility

The AWI Sylt Outdoor Mesocosm facility (AWISOM) consists of 24 mesocosms, each with 1800 l sea water volume and a translucent cover. Each mesocosm can simulate tidal cycles and currents, and contain multi- parameter measurement systems to monitor multi-factorial climate change scenarios including warming, acidification, nutrient enrichment, and sea level rise. A multiparameter probe automatically records pH, salinity, oxygen content and temperature. The mesocosms are operated seasonally from April to October to study the influences of simulated environmental changes on species communities of the Wadden Sea.

Controlled Parameters
  • Temperature
  • CO2
  • Nutrients
  • Sea level
  • salinity
Research Topics
  • Response of benthic intertidal, pelagic plankton and saltmarsh communities to IPCC climate scenarios.
Facility location(s)
55.021N, 8.438E
Primary interests
Specialist areas
Equipment
  • insulated tanks with 24 experimental units 1800 L
  • each unit containing heaters
  • coolers
  • automated water parameter recording
  • gas mixing unit
  • tidal cycle simulation
  • flow-through seawater system
  • programmable climate change scenarios simulation
Lodging

Accommodation is available in the AWI Guesthouse.

Source of Information
Photos of experiments/installations

AWISOM (AWI Sylt Outdoor Mesocosm facility) viewed from above, showing 24 mesocosms each holding 1800 l of seawater, with heater/cooler systems for temperature control and multi-parameter Sonde probes for automated measurement of water parameters (e.g. °C, CO2). photo credits: Esther Horvath

 

Saltmarsch plant species used in an AWISOM mesocosm experiment investigating climate warming and sea level rise effects on plant life history traits. photo credits: Esther Horvath

 

Schematic of individual mesocosm tank and its components (e.g. platform for tidal simulation, connections to heater/cooler system for temperature control and climate warming simulations, outlets for water sampling, etc.).;
figure credits: Pansch et al. 2016: doi: 10.1002/lom3.10086 )