STREAMS - Synthesizing Teaching and Research using Experimental Aquatic Mesocosms

 We have built an experimental stream facility at UF in order to synthesize undergraduate and graduate teaching with cutting-edge research. The facility contains 20 artificial stream mesocosms outfitted with a networked sensor array that provides real-time data on stream temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and pH. The facility can be used for teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in aquatic ecology, water resources management, and experimental design, and for conducting basic and applied research using controlled, replicated experiments. The facility is housed in a greenhouse near the Dept. of Biology at UF (map). Please contact us if you are interested in working here!
The figure to the right is a 3D sketch of the stream layout, with four motors driving five paddle wheels, for a total of 20 recirculating streams. The array is designed to be modular, so that streams can be moved around as needed.