A mesocosm is an experimental tool that brings a small part of the natural environment under controlled conditions. In this case, we built one for the Biology IB students to explore the concept of sustainability. The bottom chamber consist in an aquatic ecosystem with aquatic plants and some invertebrates like Molluscs (water snails), in addition to bacterial populations in the substrate. The top chamber is physically separated above, but contains holes for water that evaporates from the bottom chamber to reach both the gravel and soil substrate that support the plants and the air through specific channels so it can evaporate freely to the top. This way, different nutrient cycles take place. Finally, the whole set is sealed from the outside so no matter can be exchanged, only the energy from the sunlight.
We will keep it running for a while and observe the interactions between the different populations over time.
Can’t get more interesting than this!!!
