Review and evaluation of microcosms for assessing effects of stress in marine ecosystems

摘要: Abstract Representative estuarine-marine microcosms were reviewed and evaluated to provide recommendations guidance for use in assessing effects of perturbations on coastal zone ecosystems. Properly designed marine can be effective assessment tools evaluating the stresses Critical design considerations include scaling important physical factors, such as turnover rate circulation, inclusion appropriate trophic groups, minimization side growth, maintenance realistic nutrient regimes. Selection communities or major components included should based experimental hypothesis, ecologically economically organisms, ability interpret test results, difficulties involved scaling, sensitivity community stress being investigated. In selection response parameters, emphasis placed key ecological components, particle size distribution, those variables that reflect aggregate responses at population level.