Facilities
Transnational Access
Metadata & Data
Papers & Reports
Knowledge Base
ExStream System Ireland
Trinity College Dublin & University College Dublin
Infrastructure Description
The ExStream System Ireland 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 ExStream System Ireland is a collaboration between PIs in Trinity College Dublin (Jay Piggott) and University College Dublin (Mary Kelly-Quinn). It can manipulate water temperature, nutrient concentrations, current velocity, flow, light/shade and substratum among other variables. It is particularly well-suited to full-factorial or gradient response experiments of one or more experimental factors. The system has been used successfully in several major experiments, including manipulations of nutrients, sediment and water temperature simulating climate-change and land-use scenarios.
Facility Description
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).
Organisation Address
Trinity College Dublin
College Green Dublin
Dublin 2
Ireland
University College Dublin
Belfield
Dublin 4
Ireland
Infrastructure Address
(spring-summer 2023)
Dublin
Ireland
Information Sources
Assoc. Prof. Mary Kelly-Quinn (https://people.ucd.ie/mary.kelly-quinn)
Asst. Prof. Jeremy J. Piggott (https://www.tcd.ie/Zoology/research/groups/piggott/)
ExStream Ireland video: https://youtu.be/OUeL_ePRq8A
Location
Gallery
Contacts
Jeremy Piggott (TCD PI and TA)
Mary Kelly-Quinn (UCD PI)
Sam Macaulay (TA)
Controlled Parameters
Flow, can manipulate nutrient, sediment and other stressors
Research Topics
Impact of multiple stressors & climate change on aquatic communities and ecosystem processes
Experiment Years
2016 present
TA Support
Services currently offered by the infrastructure: Users have access to offices and laboratories in the Trinity Centre for the Environment including analytical equipment to process a wide variety of ecological and environmental materials. On-campus accommodation is available with Camper and/or BnB options close to the mesocosm facility. The ExStream System Ireland is the Irish installation in the ExStream Global mesocosm network comprising replicate installations in New Zealand, China, Japan, Germany and Ireland and can thereofore provide exceptional knowledge, expertise and international collaborative connections in stream mesocosm research.
Support offered under AQUACOSM-plus: Users will have access to offices and the laboratories and equipment described above. Users will be supported by a dedicated facility manager throughout their stay to facilitate coordination with other scheduled experiments and transport to/from the facility to the University campus.
TA Modality of Access
Modality of access under AQUACOSM-plus: At least 300 person-days in total will be allocated to external users supported by an AQUACOSM TA activity anticipated in M22-33. A minimum of 5 visiting scientists over 60 days per year are welcome to join ongoing experiments. ExStream experiments usually comprise a 1-month colonisation period, followed by a 1-month manipulative period requiring intensive hands-on effort and long days at the facility.
TA Accommodation
None.