Research Product

Microcosms are one method of investigating specific origins, flows, fates, and/or effects of materials in the environment. The EPA Gulf Breeze Laboratory conducts and supports research to develop microcosms of many types and complexities. These microcosms are intended to be simple, easy to apply, and are designed to investigate specific processes or categories of processes in the estuarine environment. The objective of this research is to develop a number of methods to investigate pollutant fate and effects in estuaries. The results of the individual tests are combined to form a description of the entire system. The ecosystem compartments under investigation include direct accumulation from water and food chains, direct effects of pollutants on organisms, i.e., mortality, reproduction and behavior, and indirect effects of sublethal levels of pollutants such as changes in predator-prey relationships. Microbial processes at both air-water and sediment-water interfaces are investigated as well as physical and chemical transformations. Specific tests under development include: (1). Predator/Pray Effects Test in which prey selection and the ability of the prey to avoid predation is affected by the pollutant. (2). Lugworm Benthic System in which pollutants are accumulated by these important benthic organisms and mobilized into the soil through their activity. (3). Model Salt Marsh Ecosystems in which pollutant effects are determined on microcosms which simulate seasonal and tidal conditions. (4). Microbial microcosms in which the degradation of pollutants by naturally occurring microbial populations is investigated as well as the effect of the pollutant on population diversity and composition. (5). A 'Slow-Flow' System in which the fate of pollutants is determined in a sealed, continous air and water flow, aquarium containing a representative estuarine community. (6). A Gradient Controlled System in which the avoidance and/or preference of estuarine organisms to pollutant gradients is determined. (7). A Food Chain System in which the bioaccumulation of pollutants through typical estuarine food chains is determined.