CRC 1439 - RESIST

ExStream experiment

The ExStream experiment is an outdoor mesocosm system which has been successfully applied in various countries worldwide including New Zealand, China, Japan, Brazil and Ireland. Principally, stream water is pumped into header tanks, from which it feeds up to 128 circular mesocosms where stressors can be applied.

Scheme of ExStream (click to enlarge)

In Phase I of RESIST we also developed an innovative heating solution to apply temperature as a stressor (Madge Pimentel et al., 2023). We tested the effects of three stressors (temperature increase, salinization, and reduced flow) on different organism groups and ecosystem functions during two main ExStream experiments in 2022 and 2023 (Madge Pimentel et al., 2024).

 

First ExStream experiment of Phase II finished (September 2025)

This time using the newly designed linear channels, we successfully completed the first ExStream experiment at the Bieber!

Video feature ExStream

Video feature about our ExStream experiment and the SFB scientist in action on WDR Lokalzeit - Ruhr (© 2022 WDR media group)

 

Pictures of ExStream