In the past 50 years, surface temperatures have risen faster than in any comparable period in the past 2000 years, due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Climate change-related stressors, such as warming, reoccurring heatwaves, droughts and increase in salinity, can severely impact aquatic ecosystems. These impacts have been studied over the years using various approaches, from laboratory bio-assays to field mesocosms and computational simulations. Mesocosms have been used to study the impacts of disturbances on ecological populations and communities, including climate change related stressors such as temperature or salinity. Their versatility in simulating environments and stress scenarios makes them valuable for ecotoxicology. However, their high economic and manpower costs limit the complexity of feasible experiments. On the other hand, mathematical models have emerged over the last decades as a cost-effective, time-efficient, and adaptable alternative for assessing changes in ecological communities under stress scenarios. Proper parametrization and calibration with (semi-)field observations are crucial steps in model development, ensuring predictions align with reality. This study conducted a bibliographic search of mesocosm studies assessing temperature effects on freshwater communities and community-level models incorporating temperature. We assessed the compatibility of variables measured in mesocosm studies with those required by models. Moreover, we provide a list of key measurements to consider when designing mesocosm experiments to ensure their suitability for model parameterization and calibration. This study discusses the feasibility of developing realistic multi-species models based on available mesocosm data and outlines necessary steps to incorporate these models into risk assessment protocols.