Analysing biogeochemical parameters
Standard procedures
MEL operates a number of state-of-the-art facilities and is fully equipped for the processing of benthic community analyses. It has specially designed rooms for the washing of the formalin-preserved benthic macrofaunal samples and the granulometry analyses of the sediment. Different microscopes and stereoscopes, as well as identification books can be used for the identification of benthic organisms to species level.
Also MEL is fully equipped to perform standard chemical analyses ( chlorophyll a, nutrients, sulfide). In the equipment are included various laboratory apparatus (photometer, centrifuge, oven, balances, pHmeter, sandbaths, vacuum pumps, freezedryer).
Also MEL is fully equipped to perform standard chemical analyses ( chlorophyll a, nutrients, sulfide). In the equipment are included various laboratory apparatus (photometer, centrifuge, oven, balances, pHmeter, sandbaths, vacuum pumps, freezedryer).
Specialised techniques
Heavy Metals analysis of organic tissues and sediments in ICPMS
Heavy metals are bioaccumulative and become toxic when concentrations exceed a certain limit. The identification and determination of metal concentrations in sediments and in organic tissues (fish, seagrasses, benthic organisms) it is a complicated procedure performed with specialized equipment only by experts.
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Microprofiling of sediment abiotic parameters in the laboratory or in the field
The Unisense Field Microprofiling System allows the simultaneous measurement of multiple abiotic parameters (e.g. temperature. oxygen, redox potential, sulfide, pH) vertically in different sediment depth up to 10cm.
The motor of the microprofiler enables precise positioning and moving of the microsensors through your sample with step sizes down to 0,5μm. The microprofiling system can be used in the laboratory but also in the field. The waterproof motor and sensors and the 5m of sensor cable length, allow measurements to be done directly in shallow water or outdoors right after the collection of core samples next to the study site. |
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Experimental facilities
Laboratory microcosms and outdoor mesocosms are used for studying sediment characteristics on different scales.
Microcosms
A semi-closed, flow through experimental system in a constant temperature room is used to ensure stable and controlled conditions for the experiments (salinity, light/dark cycle, light intensity, temperature, pH). This microcosm system allows manipulation of selected variables in order to measure benthic metabolism and/or to perform climate change experiments in sediments or benthic organisms.
Sediment incubations can be performed regularly in the cores placed in the microcosms, but the incubation equipment can be also used in the field. |
Benthic mesocosms & Benthocosms
In colaboration with Cretacosmos facilities of HCMR, MEL developed benthic mesocosms (4m depth, >1.5m3 volume) combining fully functional water column and sediment compartments in the same mesocosm bag allowing experiments focusing on benthic pelagic coupling and studying effects on various water column perturbations on the benthic community and geochemical variables.
Also, together with Cretacosmos facilities, benthocosms (180lt sediment/tank) are constructed and used for large scale experiments. Benthic chambers are used for measuring the benthic metabolism. |