RNA-Seq and differential gene expression analysis in wild calanoid copepod Temora stylifera females with contrasting non-feeding nauplii survival rates

Copepods are fundamental components of zooplankton and aquatic pelagic food webs, but reports on molecular responses linked to reproductive success under in situ conditions are still scarce. We present a de novo transcriptome and differential expression (DE) analysis in wild Temora stylifera females collected in the Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean Sea, where this copepod represents one of the dominant species. RNA-Seq and DE analysis were performed from females collected on consecutive sampling weeks (May 23rd and 30th 2017), because opposite naupliar survival rates were observed (25% on May 23 rd , test and 93% on May 30 th , control). We aimed at detecting key genes that may have influenced in situ copepod reproductive potential and whose expression may have been affected by phytoplankton-derived oxylipins, lipoxygenase-derived products impacting copepod naupliar survival.