Parent institution: CNRS, Institute of Ecology and Environment
Active since 2014
Active through all year
Milcu, Alexandru
email: alex.milcu@ecotron.cnrs.fr
The Microcosms platform consists of 12 identical and independent controlled environment growth chambers. These growth chambers can host a variety of microcosms (cages with insects, plants in pots, incubation vials, petri dishes, etc.).
Country: France
Latitude: 43.681667
Longitude: 3.876389
Nearest town: Montferrier-sur-Lez
Distance from neaerst town: 2 km
The Microcosms platform of the Montpellier Ecotron has the flexibility to address challenging questions in the fields of ecology, organisms, population and community ecology, biodiversity, agronomy and geosciences.
The 12 chambers can host a very large number of microcosms and can be used to set up factorial designs with multiple crossed factors. Measurements of CO2-NEE are possible using integrated LICOR automatic gas exchange chambers. Isotopic labelling and elevated CO2 treatments are possible. The experiments benefit from a full time engineer to develop and support the experiments.
No gas exchange measurements at the chamber level is currently possible. Negative temperatures cannot be simulated.
2 other platforms (Macrocosms and Mesocosms)
Experiments duration: Weeks, Months;
Total area: 12 m²
Microcosms of various sizes can be used. For soil/litter microcosms, up to 100 microcosms can be inserted in each growth chamber.Available area: 12 m²
unit size: 1 m²
Replicates number: 12
Electricity available on site.
Years measured:
Mean Temperature: 13,9 °C
February Mean Temperature: 8 °C
July Mean Temperature: 22,3 °C
Mean Annual Speed: 14 m/s
Max. Annual Speed: m/s
Dominant Direction:
Precipitation type: Rain;
Total annual precipitation: 745 mm
Mean snow cover duration: 0 days
| Variable | Ecosystem | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Warming | Forest | Planned |
| CO2 | Agrosystem | Planned |
| CO2 | Grassland | Active |
| Warming | Grassland | Planned |
| Soileutroph | Grassland | Planned |
| CO2 | Shrubland | Planned |
| Soileutroph | Shrubland | Planned |
No on-site staff.
No on-site staff.
No visitors allowed.
No beds on site
Showers on site
No laundry on site