Seasonal Thermal Plasticity in Lake Champlain Copepods
Conference Year
2024
Abstract
Warming waters threaten aquatic ecosystems. Copepods are ecologically crucial planktonic crustaceans. Thermal tolerances have been rarely investigated in freshwater copepods before. Over this year, we recorded upper thermal limits of Lake Champlain copepods on a weekly basis. Copepods collected from higher temperatures had higher thermal limits. The capacity to adjust to higher temperatures was limited and varied amongst species. Summer species were more vulnerable to warmer temperatures because their thermal limits were close to lake temperatures. Therefore, future Lake Champlain community composition alterations are possible. The summer community is at risk with increasing annual record high temperatures.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Melissa Pespeni
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Zoology
Primary Research Category
Life Sciences
Seasonal Thermal Plasticity in Lake Champlain Copepods
Warming waters threaten aquatic ecosystems. Copepods are ecologically crucial planktonic crustaceans. Thermal tolerances have been rarely investigated in freshwater copepods before. Over this year, we recorded upper thermal limits of Lake Champlain copepods on a weekly basis. Copepods collected from higher temperatures had higher thermal limits. The capacity to adjust to higher temperatures was limited and varied amongst species. Summer species were more vulnerable to warmer temperatures because their thermal limits were close to lake temperatures. Therefore, future Lake Champlain community composition alterations are possible. The summer community is at risk with increasing annual record high temperatures.