Abstract
In two experiments lasting 4 to 6 weeks, communities of North Sea coastal plankton kept in separate plastic bags (of about 1400 l) and exposed to the same environmental conditions showed very similar patterns of growth and decline. This result means that the method is suitable for the evaluation of toxic effects of environmental pollutants at low concentrations on complex plankton systems. The phytoplankton in the bags produced a succession of blooms, which were probably limited by shortage of nutrients. The dominant zooplankton organisms were various species of copepods which can develop in the bags from egg to adult. Strong indications were found that mineralization of organic matter occurs in the bags. Chemical parameters and phytoplankton biomass were found not to be stratified, indicating that the contents of the bags were well mixed.
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