Ecological studies have shown that the number of species in an area is linked to how much space there is- more empty habitat means higher biodiversity. This link between diversity and size has been referred to as ‘habitat heterogeneity’ or ‘spatial context’.
Studies have also found that when habitats are close together, animals often don’t live very long due to lack of food or safety. For example, big cats such as lions may not survive longer than three years without prey to eat!
This doesn’t seem like a lot compared to most people, but for a large predator trying to find food can be tricky. When they do get hungry, it takes them a while to travel to find their next meal, giving them less time to look for food and shelter.
By creating some heterogeneous environments with just enough resources for all the different predators, you give them something to aim for and keep them active for longer. This benefits both the individual animal and the ecosystem as a whole.
It was this idea that inspired William Outhwaite to create mesocosms, small ecosystems built within controlled environmental conditions. He designed these systems so that any changes he makes to the environment cannot only be seen at the level of the individual plant, but also at the population and larger ecological scales.
History of mesocosms
Historically, most mesocosm studies have focused on how well plants grow in different environments or testing whether there is a correlation between plant nutrients and soil composition. More recently, researchers are experimenting with adding anthropogenic materials to see what effects they have on water and air quality as well as biodiversity.
In fact, some research programs use only artificial soils made from recycled materials! These so-called “artificial” soils are typically mixed together at a ratio that resembles natural soils, making it possible to test the effect that nature has on plant growth.
Another popular type of experiment uses dried up pieces of dead organic matter such as wood or leaf litter as planting material. This is called dry sowing because the seedling roots develop in both moisture and nutrient rich composted matter.
To date, many scientists believe these types of experiments can be used to determine the impacts that humans have on our environment. For example, by studying vegetation changes due to pollution, we can learn about the toxicity of certain chemicals and how best to mitigate them.
What is a mesocosm?
A mesocosm is an artificial ecosystem that contains specific components of nature, such as plants or animals. These ecosystems are usually contained in a vessel (the mesocosm) and are given adequate resources to survive for extended periods of time.
Mesocosms play an important role in scientific research because they offer us insights into how natural environments function. By creating our own closed ecological systems, we can learn more about the effects that nature has on overall health and wellness.
There are many ways you can use a mesocosm to test your hypotheses. Some examples include:
Testing whether there are positive impacts on mental health by having exposure to nature
Finding out which plant species are most effective at promoting health
Determining the best method of watering plants
In this article, we will discuss some applications of mesocosms in academic research. However, before jumping into those, let’s take a closer look at what makes up a successful mesocosm.
What is a microcosm?
A microcosm is an organism that is placed in a liquid or gel medium to grow. These media can contain salt, glucose, water, and/or soil as components. The gel usually contains agar (used to make gels with blood products) and sodium chloride (table salt).
Microorganisms are needed for health in many ways, so scientists use microorganisms in these growth media to see what effects they have on different organisms. For example, bacteria may be grown in broth culture and then tested for antimicrobial activity or probiotic potential.
By growing microorganisms in controlled environments such as liquids, you get more accurate results than if they were done directly on solid surfaces. This is because there are not necessary requirements for oxygen, carbon sources, or other nutrients in liquid cultures, which could potentially affect how well the microorganism grows and functions.
Research using mesocosms
Recent studies show that introducing plants into empty ecosystems can have profound effects! This is called mesocosm research, and it has many applications.
Many scientific experiments depend on having an adequate amount of natural resources in the area being studied. Plants are one such resource, so scientists will often use vegetation as a form of test subject when conducting their experiment. For example, they may put some plant matter in a pot and see how well it grows.
By incorporating this concept into their study, you can easily apply what they do here to your own environment. By establishing mesocosms in areas with little or no foliage, you can help meet the needs of these experimental projects!
There are several reasons why this technique is important to know about. First, most people don’t realize that all living things need energy to grow and survive. A large part of this comes from sunlight, which means that more exposure equals healthier growth.
Second, water is another key ingredient to life. Almost every living thing requires at least two molecules (one atom) of oxygen and hydrogen per each molecule of its food source. Oxygen and hydrogen come from air and water, making both very essential to life.
Third, different types of vegetation require various amounts of nutrients to thrive.
Research using microcosms
Microcosms are simply small versions of larger ecosystems that scientist use in their research studies. These are typically very simple environments, such as an aquarium with six plants or soil and one tree leaf.
Microcosms can be used to test different hypotheses about how nature functions. For example, scientists might put together different types of vegetation in a little ecosystem to see what happens!
This is similar to what you would do when planting a new plant in your own garden. When putting together a micro-environmental experiment, there are two main reasons to add a new element.
To determine whether there is enough food for the plants already present, or if there is not. Or to check whether the other elements in the system hold more weight than the green thing people usually notice when looking at a forest.
For instance, heavier elements like rocks don’t contribute much to the nutritional value of the environment, but a person may still feel some sense of connection. This could influence how well someone does in his or her job, or have indirect effects on things like moods and sleep.
Pros and cons of mesocosms and microcosms
As mentioned earlier, mesocosms and microcosms can be used to test different material properties or to determine how individual species interact with each other. Using these in research settings is not without its drawbacks, however.
Mesocosms and microcosms are both very expensive to run due to the cost of soil, plants, and water. In addition, they take up a lot of space which may or may not be limited depending on the researcher’s working environment.
Furthermore, creating and running an experiment using mesocosms or microorganisms requires significant amounts of time as you must prepare the materials properly and make sure everything goes according to plan.
Chart a topic based on the following topic.
Ecologists use mesocosms, or small ecosystems, in their studies to test how different factors influence the environment. These can be natural settings such as tropical rainforests or dry areas like deserts, or they can be made up of only substances such as soil, water, and air.
Ecologists use mesocosms because they are cost-effective and easy to manipulate. They are also very controlled, setting specific variables that can easily be altered. This makes it possible to determine what effects each factor has without changing anything else.
Mesocosms have several uses in ecological research. Some researchers use them to see how well an ecosystem functions under stress. For example, you could put together a desert microcosm with just sand, water, and air and watch how it all interacts. Or you could add plants and see how quickly they die due to lack of moisture and nutrients.
Other scientists create large mesocosms to study certain whole systems. Perhaps you want to know how many plant and animal species live in a forest area, so you build a big park containing both. You can then track down whether there is a correlation between number of animals and vegetation and geographical location or climate.
Some ecologists use mesocosms in predictive science. By putting together different components, you can make predictions about the future state of the world.
Popular Designer Brands
Recent popular designer brands that use mesocosms in their production include Theory, which uses them to design clothing lines and emphasize sustainability through recycling of materials and energy usage; Levi’s uses them in some of its jeans designs to make sure they are durable and will last longer than others; and Vans uses them to ensure that their shoes can withstand heavy traffic and many users.
Theory is an environmentally conscious company that strives to reduce waste by reusing or recyling material components of their clothes. They do this with every piece of cloth they produce, including fabrics themselves. For example, their silk shift dresses are sewn from recycled plastic bottles and water bottles!
By using less expensive and more readily available resources, Theory leaves a smaller carbon footprint behind. This is important as we strive to prevent environmental damage and conserve our natural resources.
Levi’s makes certain pairs of jeans twice as thick as normal so they remain durable even after frequent washing. This helps preserve the environment because it cuts down on how much energy it takes to process new raw materials into finished products.
Vans also use mesocosms in their manufacturing process to make sure their footwear stays sturdy and reliable. These engineered features keep the shoe comfortable and strong over time.
