Effects of life stage and thermal history on thermal performance in early life

My thesis aims to deliver new insights into how progression through life stages, and thermal history at prior stages or generations, shape thermal performance in early life. To do so, I undertook three empirical studies focusing on a marine ectotherm, whose early planktonic stages govern adult abundances and dynamics. First, I describe thermal performance curves (TPC) at fertilization, embryogenesis, and larval development. Second, I assess carryover effects of temperature at prior life stages (fertilization and embryogenesis) on TPC at the end of planktonic development (larval survival). Finally, I examine the combined within- and between-generation effects of thermal acclimation on TPC for larval survival.