Copepod performance under the direct and indirect effect of environmental stressors

​In the framework of the current project, we examine the effect of multiple environmental stressors (e.g. T, UV, PAHs) on a key zooplankton group, copepods. Specifically, we conduct experiments under controlled laboratory conditions with primary producers and copepod species isolated from the Red Sea, addressing questions regarding sub-lethal effects of the stressors on copepod physiology due to “bottom-up” effects. Apart from examining how the effect of environmental stressors is being propagated to copepods through the planktonic food web, we also explore how copepod performance may be affected under the direct effect of these stressors.