a method for environmental monitoring and bioprospecting includes the steps of : utilizing a testing device having : a container having a fluid inlet and outlet , a plurality of capillary microcosms situated within the container , each of these capillaries having an inlet and outlet that are configured so as to allow for fluid flow through the capillaries , each of these capillaries further having a means for covering its inlet and outlet so as to prevent flow through the capillary , a pump connected to the container outlet , the pump being configured so as to draw fluid from the surrounding environment into the container &# 39 ; s inlet and through the capillaries , connected to the outlet of the container , a means for collecting the flow through the container , and a check valve connected downstream of the container to prevent the backflow of fluid into the container , adding specified test substances to the device &# 39 ; s capillaries , wherein these substances are to be analyzed for their ability to accelerate a specified biotransformation process in the subject environment , locating this device in this environment and opening the capillary covering means so as to allow fluid from the surrounding environment to flow though the container and capillaries , leaving the device in situ for a temporal duration sufficient to incubate phenomena occurring within the capillary microcosms , retrieving the testing device , and analyzing phenomena occurring with the capillary microcosms using automated analysis schemes and commercially available robotics .