Chapter 10
A Scaled-Up Model Ecosystem Verification
of the Microcosm N-System
Yuhei Inamori, Ryuhei Inamori, and Yuzuru Kimochi
Abstract In this chapter, a scaled-up microcosm system used for verification of the
microcosm N-system is described. The microcosm N-system is recognized as a very
useful tool for environmental impact assessment, but it is necessary to verify that it
reflects the behavior of natural ecosystems well. To evaluate this, a scaled-up
microcosm system was constructed and investigated.
10.1 Overview of the Scaled-Up Model Ecosystem
10.1.1 Species Composition
A scaled-up model ecosystem can be constructed by introducing submerged plants,
fish, bivalve mollusks, shrimp, and other organisms into the microcosm N-system,
which consists of conventional producers, predators, and decomposers (Takagi et al.
1994; Takamatsu et al. 1995; Inamori and Takamatsu 1995). The model ecosystem
with aquatic animals and plants is shown in Fig. 10.1. Representative test organisms
in temperate areas include Egeria densa, a submerged plant; Anodonta woodiana, a
freshwater bivalve mollusk; and the fish Rhodeus ocellatus and Pseudorasbora
parva. With the coexistence of these organisms, creating an ecosystem through the
combination of submerged plants and aquatic animals, the construction of a scaledup model for co-culturing large aquatic organisms was conducted. It was then
possible to analyze the influence of chemical substances on the selected model
ecosystem. The species used in this scaled-up model ecosystem included
Potamogeton malaianus, Vallisneria denseserrulata, Elodea nuttallii, Potamogeton
dentatus, and Potamogeton pusillus as producers; the fish Rhinogobius flumineus;
Y. Inamori · R. Inamori
Foundation for Advancement of International Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
e-mail: y_inamori@fais.or.jp; r_inamori@fais.or.jp
Y. Kimochi (*)
Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, Kazo, Saitama, Japan
e-mail: kimochi.yuzuru@pref.saitama.lg.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
Y. Inamori (ed.), Microcosm Manual for Environmental Impact Risk Assessment,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6798-4_10
187
A Scaled-Up Model Ecosystem Verification
of the Microcosm N-System
Yuhei Inamori, Ryuhei Inamori, and Yuzuru Kimochi
Abstract In this chapter, a scaled-up microcosm system used for verification of the
microcosm N-system is described. The microcosm N-system is recognized as a very
useful tool for environmental impact assessment, but it is necessary to verify that it
reflects the behavior of natural ecosystems well. To evaluate this, a scaled-up
microcosm system was constructed and investigated.
10.1 Overview of the Scaled-Up Model Ecosystem
10.1.1 Species Composition
A scaled-up model ecosystem can be constructed by introducing submerged plants,
fish, bivalve mollusks, shrimp, and other organisms into the microcosm N-system,
which consists of conventional producers, predators, and decomposers (Takagi et al.
1994; Takamatsu et al. 1995; Inamori and Takamatsu 1995). The model ecosystem
with aquatic animals and plants is shown in Fig. 10.1. Representative test organisms
in temperate areas include Egeria densa, a submerged plant; Anodonta woodiana, a
freshwater bivalve mollusk; and the fish Rhodeus ocellatus and Pseudorasbora
parva. With the coexistence of these organisms, creating an ecosystem through the
combination of submerged plants and aquatic animals, the construction of a scaledup model for co-culturing large aquatic organisms was conducted. It was then
possible to analyze the influence of chemical substances on the selected model
ecosystem. The species used in this scaled-up model ecosystem included
Potamogeton malaianus, Vallisneria denseserrulata, Elodea nuttallii, Potamogeton
dentatus, and Potamogeton pusillus as producers; the fish Rhinogobius flumineus;
Y. Inamori · R. Inamori
Foundation for Advancement of International Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
e-mail: y_inamori@fais.or.jp; r_inamori@fais.or.jp
Y. Kimochi (*)
Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, Kazo, Saitama, Japan
e-mail: kimochi.yuzuru@pref.saitama.lg.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
Y. Inamori (ed.), Microcosm Manual for Environmental Impact Risk Assessment,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6798-4_10
187