SITES aquaNET

Description of the infrastructure: SITES AquaNet is a standardised infrastructure for national and international researchers to run mesocosm experiments in lakes that are associated to 5 field stations that are part of the SITES (Swedish Infrastructure for Ecosystem Sciences). The infrastructure is located in four SITES stations (Svartberget, Erken, Skogaryd and Asa) and in one associated station at lake Bolmen, which is operated by Swedish Water Research. Hence, SITES AquaNET enables modularised experimental manipulations in lakes that vary in local environmental conditions along a latitudinal gradient in Sweden. Each site is equipped with a jetfloat raft system deployed in its local lake with 16-20 polyethylene cylindrical enclosures (700 L, 1.5 m deep, 0.8 m Ø). The experimental facilities have sensor and data logging systems in each mesocosm for real-time measurements of environmental parameters, such as oxygen, temperature, photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), chlorophyll, phycocyanin and turbidity. In addition, handheld sensor units offer the possibility to measure in situ pH and conductivity. SITES AquaNet has established protocols to standardise both field and laboratory work. Each station is equipped with field equipment for collection of samples and there is access to cold storage, freezing rooms and laboratory facilities for filtering and extraction of samples for a wide range of analyses. The versatility of the experimental facility enables users to address questions in many different topics: biodiversity-functioning-stability relationships, community ecology, ecological stoichiometry, food web interactions, benthic-pelagic dynamics, biogeochemistry (e.g., nutrient cycling), land-water- air gas exchange, cyanobacterial blooms and global change research.

Modality of access under AQUACOSM-plus: A total of 1600 person-days will be allocated to external users supported by an AQUACOSM-plus TA activity in year 3. At least 1600 person-days will be allocated to external users of AQUACOSM-plus TA provision. It is anticipated that AQUACOSM-plus will support a minimum of 5-6 persons for 57-60 days per year in M22-33. A typical experiment is expected to run for 6-8 weeks (excluding preparations). TA access is however recommended for longer stays for 3-5 users per station. The primary objective for access will be the implementation a coordinated experiment in all 5 lakes that addresses a grand scientific challenge as defined in Task 6.1. TA users will have the opportunity to be part of this synchronised experiment, which includes planning, on-site preparation, and implementation of experiments at the different field stations. One of the nodes (the Erken Laboratory) can also host participants during the sample analysis period after the experiment and can offer access to laboratories, instrumentation and the scientific environment at the Department of Ecology and Genetics at Uppsala University as well. The access costs are estimated based on real cost calculations.