Effects of temperature and starvation on life history traits and fatty acid profiles of the Antarctic copepod Tigriopus kingsejongensis

Changes in temperature and starvation are stressors that can modulate metabolism and fatty acid (FA) composition among zooplankton. However, studies on FA modulation have not been conducted on Antarctic zooplankton. In this study, we aimed to understand the changes in life history parameters and FA profiles associated with starvation at four temperatures (4, 8, 14, and 18 °C) in the Antarctic copepod Tigriopus kingsejongensis. In our results, higher temperatures accelerated the development of T. kingsejongensis and increased total offspring. In addition, the production of reactive oxygen species increased with temperature, reflecting an increase in metabolic rate. FA analysis revealed that starvation and higher temperatures decreased the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) proportion but increased the saturated fatty acid proportion of T. kingsejongensis. Even though the proportion of other PUFAs decreased, docosahexaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid were increased by starvation and higher temperatures. Our data provide a better understanding of FA regulation in Antarctic copepods in response to external stressors.