ExStream System Ireland

Name
ExStream System Ireland
Legal name of organisation
University College Dublin in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin
Country
Ireland
Continent
Europe
Organisation address

Belfield, Dublin 4

Primary contact information (PI)

Assoc. Prof. Mary Kelly-Quinn

ExStream network coordinator Asst. Prof. Jeremy J. Piggott

 

mary.kelly-quinn@ucd.ie

jeremy.piggott@tcd.ie

Years of Mesocosm Experiments
2016 present, A number of UCD/TCD projects will use the facility over the next three years (-2020).
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 facility is mobile, currently housed in University College Dublin.

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

Flow, can manipulate nutrient, sediment and other stressors

Research Topics

Impact of multiple stressors & climate change on aquatic communities and ecosystem processes

Facility location(s)
53.307444, -6.227611
Primary interests

Stream biodiversity and ecosystem function

Specialist areas

Multiple stressors and climate change

Equipment

Basic equipement. For detailed information please, mesage facility contacts.

Lodging

None

Source of Information
Photos of experiments/installations
Photo credit: Matthew Rose-Nel
Photo credit: Matthew Rose-Nel
Figure credit: Jeremy (Jay) Piggott