Sentence:  The method is relatively labour intensive (24-30 <WSD>microcosms</WSD> are run) and more difficult to interpret when compared with other <WSD>microcosm</WSD> methods (Shannon et al. 1986; Cairns & Cherry 1993). 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A small natural ecosystem; an artificial ecosystem set up as an experimental model. (from 19th c.)