This is a project is designed to investigate winter recruitment in the copepod Neocalanus flemingeri in the Gulf of Alaska. Calanid copepods like N. flemingeri are characterized by rapid population growth during the spring coincident with the annual phytoplankton bloom. Recruitment to this spring population is dependent on the successful emergence from diapause followed by
reproduction, and survival and growth of this next generation. However, an apparent mismatch between the presence of nauplii (youngest stages) in December/January and the occurrence and unpredictability of the spring phytoplankton bloom have raised questions regarding the timing of female reproduction, and subsequent survival of nauplii. Here, we propose to combine
laboratory and field approaches to determine whether female reproduction is synchronized and the strategies for nauplius survival during low food conditions. Gene expression studies will be used to develop molecular markers for female dormancy and reproductive readiness and for naupliar growth, which in turn will be used to evaluate field collected individuals.

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