ExStream System New Zealand

Name
ExStream System New Zealand
Legal name of organisation
University of Otago, Department of Zoology
Country
New Zealand
Continent
Australasia
Organisation address

340 Great King St

Dunedin 9054

New Zealand

Primary contact information (PI)

Assoc. Prof. Christoph D. Matthaei

ExStream network coordinator Asst. Prof. Jeremy J. Piggott

 

christoph.matthaei@otago.ac.nz 

jeremy.piggott@tcd.ie

Years of Mesocosm Experiments
2007 - present
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
  • Current velocity
  • flow
  • nutrients
  • fine sediment
  • pesticides
  • antibiotics
  • nitrification inhibitors
  • light levels
  • water temperature
  • grazing pressure
Research Topics

Multiple-stressor effects on stream ecosystems; also natural drivers shaping stream communities

Facility location(s)
-45.06337, 170.44303
Primary interests

Multiple-stressor effects on stream ecosystems; also natural drivers shaping stream communities

Specialist areas

Multiple-stressor effects on stream ecosystems

Equipment

Everything needed to run the experiments

Lodging

Caravan camping is facilitated through the facility.

Photos of experiments/installations
 
from: Piggott et al. 2015, Global Chnage Biology, 21, 206-222
Photo credit: Jeremy (Jay) Piggott
Figure credit: Jeremy (Jay) Piggott
 
Figure credit: Jeremy (Jay) Piggott