Eawag Experimental Ponds Facility

Name
Eawag Experimental Ponds Facility
Legal name of organisation
Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
Country
Switzerland
Continent
Europe
Organisation address

Eawag, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland

Primary contact information (PI)

Christoph Vorburger

Head of Experimental Ponds Committee

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Years of Mesocosm Experiments
2016 – present
Description of Facility

The Experimental Ponds Facility at Eawag in Dübendorf consists of 36 independent ponds made of glass fiber reinforced plastic. The ponds are 1.5 m deep with a shallow end to one side (0.5 m), and they hold up to 15 m3 of fresh water. The ponds can be drained and reset completely between experiments.

Controlled Parameters

Depending on ongoing experiments:
1. Nutrient loading (phosphorus)
2. Presence/absence of macrophytes
3. Presence/absence of filter feeders (mussels)
4. Ecotypes of added fish

Research Topics

Ecosystem resilience
Eco-evolutionary dynamics
Ecosystem effects of environmental stressors
Ecoosystem effects of evaporation control

Facility location(s)
47.40515,8.60855
Primary interests
Specialist areas
Equipment

Indoor laboratories for sample processing

Sampling bridges for easy access to water column

Sampling equipment for phyto- and zooplankton

Exo2 Multiparameter Sonds for automated measurement of water quality parameters

Lodging

Hotels and Eawag guest house nearby

Photos of experiments/installations
Image 1: Eawag’s Experimental Pond Facility in Dübendorf, Switzerland. Picture taken in summer 2016, shortly after the construction of the facility. Photo credit: Christoph Vorburger
Image 2: Schematic cross-section of an experimental pond. Image credit: Eawag
Image 3: Scientists taking samples at Eawag’s Experimental Pond Facility in Dübendorf, Switzerland. Photo credit: Eawag