Clade identities of marine copepods along the Eastern United States

Climate change is rapidly altering marine ecosystems, impacting key species such as copepods, which play essential roles in food webs and carbon cycling. Acartia tonsa, a widely distributed marine copepod, exhibits deep genetic divergence, with cryptic clades potentially differing in thermal tolerance and salinity adaptation. This study examines genetic variation in A. tonsa across latitudinal and salinity gradients. Using COI sequencing from six populations sampled across seasons, we aim to assess clade composition and potential seasonal shifts. Results will provide insight into copepod adaptation mechanisms and how climate change may reshape population structures, influencing coastal ecosystem stability.