ExStream System China

Name
ExStream System China
Legal name of organisation
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Country
China
Continent
Asia
Organisation address

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University 111 Ren’ai Road,

Suzhou Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District Suzhou Industrial Park

Suzhou, Jiangsu Province,

China 215123

Primary contact information (PI)

Assoc. Prof. Yixin Zhang

ExStream network coordinator Asst. Prof. Jeremy J. Piggott

 

Yixin.Zhang@xjtlu.edu.cn

jeremy.piggott@tcd.ie

Years of Mesocosm Experiments
operational since 2018
Description of Facility

The ExStream System comprises 128 circular stream mesocosms offering strict control of experimental variables, excellent statistical power and a high degree of realism, such as permitting natural immigration and emigration of stream organisms (invertebrates, algae and microbes) and achieving the same ambient temperature, light conditions and water chemistry as the adjoining river/stream. The mesocosms are arranged in eight blocks of 16 units each, and each of these blocks is continuously supplied by stream water gravity-fed from one of eight header tanks via 16 individual supply pipes.

 

The Experimental Stream mesocosm network (ExStream) comprises replicate installations in New Zealand, China, Japan, Germany and Ireland and is coordinated by Asst. Prof. Jeremy J. Piggott at Trinity College Dublin (jeremy.piggott@tcd.ie).  

Controlled Parameters
  • Nutrients
  • Sediments
  • Flow velocity
  • Temperature
Research Topics

The effects of multiple stressors on benthic macroinvertebrate communities and ecosystem functioning in streams

Facility location(s)
31.276111, 120.7325; 30.118056, 118.023889
Primary interests

Benthic macroinvertebrate communities and ecosystem functioning in streams: Responses to multiple stressors’ impact.

Specialist areas

Stream Ecology, Community ecology

Equipment

At the location of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, there are a complete set of lab facilities

Lodging

present for both locations

Photos of experiments/installations
Photo credit: Noel Juvigny-Khenafou
Photo credit: Noel Juvigny-Khenafou
Photo credit: Noel Juvigny-Khenafou
Figure credit: Jeremy (Jay) Piggott