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Title: Adaptation of copepod populations to thermal stress. Technical report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7175808

The range of temperatures tolerated by the copepod Eurytemora affinis was found to increase with increasing salinity and with temperature acclimation. Developmental temperature also had a positive influence, as did sex, at least at higher acclimation temperatures. The effects of salinity and acclimation were independent. Female adults were equally or more tolerant then males and pre-adult stages were significantly more tolerant than adults. Thus, the range of successful reproduction, and so survival, depends on the tolerance range of adults. Considerable individual flexibility, at less 1 ppt and without prior acclimation was demonstrated by animals tolerating an increase in temperature from 3C to 33C in less than 2 hours. There was evidence of long-term (genetic) flexibility, which would allow the species to adapt to novel thermal environments. (GRA)

Research Organization:
Maryland Univ., College Park (USA). Water Resources Research Center
DOE Contract Number:
DI-14-31-0001-5020
OSTI ID:
7175808
Report Number(s):
PB-244706
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English