A major unknown dimension of global change is how environmental change is altering the productivity, energy-flux and material-flux of marine systems. Experimental work (microcosms) will be executed to understand how different temperature variation patterns affect zooplankton individuals and communities of zooplankton, specifically effects on zooplankton physiology (e.g., body size, growth, use of fatty acids) and adaptation processes (transgenerational parental effects) will inform about the severity of temperature fluctuations. In a second step, community experiments (mesocosms) which include multiple trophic levels will help to understand the adaptability and regeneration abilities of whole ecosystems to fluctuating temperatures, warming events, and increasing average temperature.