17 Biological Station, St. George’s GE01, Bermuda
Dr. Yvonne Sawall
yvonne.sawall@bios.asu.edu
The Bermuda Marine Mesocosm Facility (BMMF) is a robust and versatile state-of-the-art outdoor facility for experimental work and organism culturing.
The BMMF provides scientists with an opportunity to conduct research in controlled marine environments under near-natural conditions, meaning natural sun light and seawater that is pumped from the close-by Reach. It has twelve 500-L and four 1500-L experimental basins that can be run simultaneously and are designed with the potential to manipulate a range of environmental factors, such as temperature, light, CO2 concentrations, flow rate, and nutrients. The BMMF provides for a replicated and robust experimental design that is ideal for research on a variety of topics, including, for example, organism eco-physiology and reproduction, biological recovery and ecosystem resilience.
- Temperature, light
- CO2
- seawater flow-through
- filtered/unfiltered seawater
- Effects of ocean warming (marine heat waves) on organisms and communities
- Effect of ocean acidification on organisms and communities
- Effect of nutrient enrichment on organisms and communities
- Effect of hypoxia on organisms and communities
- Reproductive biology of, for example, corals and seagrass
- Efficacy and effects of marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) technologies
- Manipulation experiments under near-natural conditions
Basins:
- 12 x 500-L basins
- 4 x 1500-L basins – elongated, can be converted into flumes
Light intensity control:
- Roof: Scaffolding holding a waterproof & light permeable (~75%) greenhouse foil
- Lids for each basin with exchangeable shading material (e.g., mosquito netting) for further light reduction
Temperature control
- 12 x AquaLogic DSHP-9 Heat Pumps, one for each 500-L basin
- 4 x AquaLogic HS-2 Heat Pumps, one for each 1500-L basin
CO2 supply and pH monitoring
- CO2 supply regulated by mass-flow controllers and directly bubbled into 3 x 200-L flow-through header tanks; flow to individual basins is adjustable
- Automated pH measurements in all basins via a centralized pH sensor (DURAFET III, Honeywell Process solution) and remote-controlled pumps.
Water supply and flow
- Total capacity of seawater supply from Reach: 9,000 L/h
- 2 x 5,500-L header tanks for seawater storage
- Sediment filter
Aquarium setup
- 30 x 60-L aquaria to be placed inside basins
Electricity
- 2 – 4 power outlets (110V) above each basin
Laboratory container
- 20-foot shipping container converted into an air-conditioned lab space with cabinets, bench space, various power outlets (110V) and a freshwater sink
Utility golf cart For quick and easy transport of life organisms from the boat to the BMMF and for transport of equipment.
Various visitor accommodations are available on campus: https://bios.asu.edu/visiting-bios
https://bios.asu.edu/research/facilities/mesocosm-facility
