| The primary goal of this research was to design, construct and validate 36 microcosms to emulate intertidal conditions of marsh wetlands. The experiment was designed to have three treatments of 12 microcosms each. Acclimation is defined as the physiological of behavioral adaptation of organisms to one or more environmental conditions associated with the test method (40CFR. 797.1600.91). The microcosms were constructed and a regular semidiurnal tidal cycle was simulated. Gravity outflow rates, concentrations of nitrates, phosphates, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and biomass were monitored in both the gravity outflow and reservoir water. Redox of the core was monitored at five different depths. The variation in all the parameters narrowed down to statistically tolerable limits across the three treatments during a two month acclimation period. The microcosm system was validated using statistical methods for an oil spill and testing of bioremediation agents. |
