Feasibility of large-scale aquatic microcosms. Final report
Microcosms have been used to study a number of fundamental ecological principles and more recently to investigate the effects of man-made perturbations on ecosystems. In this report the feasibility of using large-scale microcosms to access aquatic impacts of power generating facilities is evaluated. Aquatic problems of concern to utilities are outlined, and various research approaches, including large and small microcosms, bioassays, and other laboratory experiments, are discussed. An extensive critical review and synthesis of the literature on recent microcosm research, which includes a comparison of the factors influencing physical, chemical, and biological processes in small vs large microcosms and in microcosms vs nature, led the authors to conclude that large-scale microcosms offer several advantages over other study techniques for particular types of problems. A hypothetical large-scale facility simulating a lake ecosystem is presented to illustrate the size, cost, and complexity of such facilities. The rationale for designing a lake-simulating large-scale microcosm is presented.
- Research Organization:
- Lawler, Matusky and Skelly, Pearl River, NY (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5302871
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-EA-2283; ON: DE82903301
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
POWER PLANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
BIOASSAY
ECOSYSTEMS
LAKES
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520200* - Environment
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200200 - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Waste Management