In this thesis, I expand upon the current climate change and fisheries knowledge through shifting attention towards the impacts of ocean change at the molecular scale. In Chapter 1, I explore the ability of postlarval American lobsters to activate a cellular stress response when reared under temperature treatments reflective of moderate and severe warming Gulf of Maine (GoM) projections (18 °C and 22 °C, respectively). Utilizing RNA-Seq and transcriptomic analysis, I characterize the degree of cellular stress endured by postlarval lobsters reared at predicted GoM warming temperatures relative to those reared at the current GoM temperature. Through considering differences in gene expression, I investigate how temperature influences the CSR of postlarval American lobsters and their ability to cope with warming waters. In Chapter 2, I argue that the inclusion of an 'omics lens into fisheries management will enhance fisheries' adaptive capacities amidst dramatically changing oceans. Using the Gulf of Maine lobster fishery as a case study, I demonstrate the potential of transcriptomics to assess and predict ocean warming impacts on target species. Weaving together perspectives across disciplines and from differing scopes of knowledge, I provide a foundation to fuse transcriptomic approaches into fisheries management and bridge the research-application gap. This thesis, combining a scientific experiment with a fisheries management focused paper, seeks to insert novel sequencing tools into climate change problem-solving endeavors.
"},{"label":"Degree","value":["Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors"]},{"label":"Author-supplied Keywords","value":["Transcriptomics","American lobsters","Climate change"]},{"label":"Administrative Note","value":"Access was restricted until April 15, 2022.