UQAR – Mesocosms

UQAR – Mesocosms

Institution:	Université du Québec à Rimouski
Location:	Rimouski, Québec, CANADA
Contact:	Dr. Émilien Pelletier
Habitat:	Saltwater
Type of unit:	MESOCOSMS FOR BIOACCUMULATION STUDIES
Unit description:	Six food approuv fibreglass mesocosms for rearing various species of fish larvae and adults : Each mesocosm have: 1.40 m diameter x 3.50 m height for a volume of 3.8 m3. 3 sample ports and 9 probe insertion ports; flow of 10 lpm; 0% recirculated water; Astral photoperiod controller for fluorescent; Electronic controller and monitoring system (connected by RF to a central computer): 1 Enviro-monitron® each with 3 DO probes, 3 temperature probes, 1 photometric probe.
Mandate:	Conception Fabrication On-site assembling, commissioning and training

UQAR – Mesocosms

UQAR wishes to simulate an estuarine environment comprising a layer of freshwater surface and a layer of salty deep water, the two separate by a halocline 30-40 cm thick. Planned experiments (displacement of silver nanoparticles in an estuarine environment) require a dynamic equilibrium system, that is to say a system in which the water inlets are exactly counterbalanced by the outlets. It is planned to use systems of two interconnected mesocosms, in duplicate, the fifth mesocosm as a reservoir of fresh water.

The UQAR aims at a renewal time of 2 days (1 L / min total) for the mescosms that will receive fresh water and a renewal time of 1 day (2 L / min total) for the mesocosms that will receive the water of the first halocline. These flow rates being very slow, a very precise control will be installed.