The Management and Behaviour of the Mesocosms

A nutrient manipulation experiment was undertaken in eight 11m3mesocosms designed to give rise to selective development of different algal groups. The experiment was successful in that a silicate-controlled toggle enabled a switch between flagellate (Emiliania huxleyidominated) and diatom communities. The present account details the general management and sampling of the enclosures and reports as a background the results of the basic chemical and biological parameters. No attempt is made to undertake a detailed analysis of the results.