Food web research feeds ecology with elementary theoretical concepts that need controlled experimental testing. Mesocosm facilities offer multiple ways to execute experimental food web research in a rigorous way. We performed a literature survey to overview food web research implementing the mesocosm approach. Our goal was to summarise quantitatively how the mesocosm approach has formerly been used and question how to best utilise mesocosms for the emerging topics in food web research in the future. We suggest increasing the number of replicates, extending the duration of the experiments, involving higher trophic levels and addressing the combined effects of multiple stressors.

食物网研究为生态学提供了需要控制实验测试的基本理论概念。中观空间设施提供了多种方法来严格执行实验性食物网研究。我们进行了文献调查，以概述实施中观方法的食品网研究。我们的目标是定量总结以前如何使用中观方法，并对未来如何在食品网络研究中如何最好地利用中观方法来解决这些新兴问题。我们建议增加重复次数，延长实验时间，涉及更高的营养水平并解决多个应激源的综合作用。