Larval and adult stages of marine species with complex life cycles often differ in thermal tolerance, with larvae typically showing narrower thermal tolerance limits. To assess how such stage-specific differences may influence species' range dynamics under climate change, we quantified larval performance of the European shore crab Carcinus maenas across an environmental temperature gradient. We measured larval survival rates (%) from hatching to metamorphosis to megalopa and the duration of development (days) at seven constant-temperature treatments (9-27 °C, in 3 °C increments). Data represent experimental observations of larval performance under laboratory conditions and are reported at the level of replicates by females of each population. Replication was performed on two levels: 5 * 10 larvae were reared per female, and 4 to 6 females were used per population. Larvae originated from berried females collected from populations at the southern and northern parts of the native European distribution (Vigo, Spain; Bergen and Trondheim, Norway). The data were collected during one reproductive period in 2022. We aimed to test the hypothesis that larvae from northern populations are more tolerant to low temperatures, while southern populations exhibit increased tolerance to high temperatures, which would facilitate poleward range expansion under warming conditions. Our results show that larvae from Spain displayed slightly higher survival rates to megalopa at warmer temperatures compared to those from northern populations. However, little variation in tolerance was observed between northern Spain and Norway, with low survival at the temperature extremes (9 °C and 27 °C). Notably, larvae from Norway exhibited faster development at low temperatures.
Larvae of marine species with complex life cycles with wide latitudinal distribution ranges can differ not only in their thermal tolerance, but also in responses to temperature, such as growth rates and carbon or nitrogen accumulation. To assess population-specific growth rates, based on dry mass and carbon and nitrogen contents, we studied larval growth rates of the European shore crab Carcinus maenas across an environmental temperature gradient. We measured larval growth (day-1) from hatching to metamorphosis to megalopa at seven constant temperature treatments (9-27 °C, in 3 °C increments). Data represent experimental observations of larval dry mass, carbon and nitrogen contents under laboratory conditions and are reported at the level of replicates by females of each population. Replication was performed on two levels: 5 **10 larvae were reared per female, and 4 to 6 females were used per population. Larvae originated from berried females collected from populations at the southern and northern parts of the native European distribution (Vigo, Spain; Bergen and Trondheim, Norway). The data were collected during one reproductive period in 2022. Growth rates were low at low temperatures and increased with temperature, reaching a plateau at 21 °C. This increase in growth coincided with a reduction in duration of development, leading to similar body mass at metamorphosis across temperature treatments. Contrastingly, at the high temperature treatments 24°C and 27°C, reductions in duration of development did not coincide with increased growth rates, hence larvae metamorphosed with reduced body mass.