Mesocosm and other competition experiments

A difficulty with conclusions based on observations is that correlation of changes does not prove causation. As Gillbricht (1988) pointed out for the Helgoland 

Site of mesocosm and initial water and plankton Start month(s) Treatment N Si (a) N P (a) n (b) Main consequences Reference 

T rondheimsfj ord June 99 and 1 1 3 1 6 Diatoms dominate, nitrate depleted before Gilpin etal. (2003)  

Land-based with water from May 94 1.0 1 7 1 2 diatoms dominant (changing species), Escarvage etal. (1999) 

Oosterschedlt, Netherlands 1.3 1 10 1 2 Phaeocystis cells and colonies important  

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