Performance of in Situ Microcosms Compared to Actual Reservoir Behavior

Abstract

In situ microcosms are often effective systems for performing trophic studies in aquatic environments. In this paper, the behavior of replicate control microcosms in three experiments is compared to each other and to the behavior of the reservoir in which the experiments were conducted. The results indicate that the microcosms accurately and consistently simulated the vertical profiles of temperature in the reservoir. The microcosms accurately simulated the reservoir concentrations of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, chlorophyll a, and light penetration in two experiments, but not in the third experiment. In all three experiments, the microcosms were unable to simulate accurately the reservoir concentrations of dissolved oxygen. Finally, the replicate microcosms did perform as replicates.