A key research aim for lotic ecosystems is the identification of natural and anthropogenic pressures that impact ecosystem status and functions. As a consequence of these perturbations, many lotic ecosystems are exposed to complex combinations of nonchemical and chemical stressors. These stressors comprise temperature fluctuations, flow alterations, elevated solute loads or xenobiotics, and all these factors can pose stress upon aquatic ecosystems on different temporal, spatial and biological scales. Factorial experiments are essential to reveal causal relationships especially between combined stressors and their effects in the environment. However, experimental tools that account for the complexity of running waters across different ecosystem compartments, levels of biological organisation, natural or anthropogenic environmental gradients, and replicability are rare. Here we present a new research infrastructure consisting of streamside mobile mesocosms (MOBICOS) that allows analysing the effects of stressors and stressor combinations through multifactorial experiments in near‐natural settings and across anthropogenic pressure gradients. Consisting of eight container‐based running water laboratories operated as bypasses to running surface waters, MOBICOS combines in situ real‐time monitoring of physicochemical and biological parameters with manipulative experiments across ranges of environmental conditions. Different flume types can be set up within MOBICOS to separate and combine different ecosystem compartments (pelagic, epibenthic and hyporheic zones) in a flexible and modular way. Due to its compact design, the MOBICOS units can be shifted easily to particular sites of interest. Furthermore, simultaneous operation of multiple MOBICOS units at different sites allows the integration of natural gradients in multifactorial experiments. We highlight the versatility of the MOBICOS experimental infrastructure with two case studies addressing (a) hydraulic control of lotic biofilms and (b) pollution‐induced community tolerance of biofilms along an environmental gradient. The modular and mobile MOBICOS units have the potential to significantly advance our understanding of causal relationships between natural environmental oscillations, anthropogenic stressors and their combined ecological impacts on lotic aquatic ecosystems beyond existing stream mesocosm approaches.

中文翻译：

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河滨移动中观世界（MOBICOS）：一种新的模块化研究基础设施，用于跨流域尺度梯度的水生态过程研究

抽水生态系统的一项关键研究目标是确定影响生态系统状态和功能的自然和人为压力。这些摄动的结果是，许多乳液生态系统都暴露于非化学和化学应激源的复杂组合。这些压力源包括温度波动，流量变化，溶质负荷升高或异种生物，所有这些因素都可能在不同的时空，空间和生物尺度上对水生生态系统造成压力。析因实验对于揭示因果关系至关重要，尤其是揭示组合压力源及其对环境的影响之间的因果关系。但是，实验工具可以解释不同生态系统隔间的自来水的复杂性，生物组织的水平，自然或人为的环境梯度，和可复制性很少。在这里，我们介绍了一个由河床移动介体（MOBICOS）组成的新研究基础设施，该基础设施允许通过在近自然环境中和跨人为压力梯度的多因素实验来分析压力源和压力源组合的影响。MOBICOS由8个基于容器的自来水实验室组成，它们绕过了地表水，MOBICOS将物理化学和生物学参数的原位实时监测与在各种环境条件下的操作性实验结合在一起。可以在MOBICOS内设置不同的水槽类型，以灵活和模块化的方式分离和组合不同的生态系统区室（上层，上层和下层带）。由于其紧凑的设计，MOBICOS装置可轻松转移到特定的景点。此外，在不同位置同时运行多个MOBICOS单元可以在多因素实验中整合自然梯度。我们通过两个案例研究强调了MOBICOS实验基础设施的多功能性，这些案例研究了（a）大量控制生物膜的水力控制和（b）沿环境梯度污染引起的生物膜的社区耐受性。模块化和移动式MOBICOS单元有可能大大提高我们对自然环境振荡，人为压力源及其对水生水生生态系统方法的综合影响对水生水生生态系统之间因果关系的理解。我们通过两个案例研究强调了MOBICOS实验基础设施的多功能性，这些案例研究涉及（a）大量控制生物膜的水力控制和（b）沿环境梯度污染引起的生物膜的群落耐受性。模块化和移动式MOBICOS单元有可能大大提高我们对自然环境振荡，人为压力源及其对水生水生生态系统方法的综合影响对水生水生生态系统之间因果关系的理解。我们通过两个案例研究强调了MOBICOS实验基础设施的多功能性，这些案例研究涉及（a）大量控制生物膜的水力控制和（b）沿环境梯度污染引起的生物膜的群落耐受性。模块化和移动式MOBICOS单元有可能大大提高我们对自然环境振荡，人为压力源及其对水生水生生态系统方法的综合影响对水生水生生态系统之间因果关系的理解。