Influence of short-term nutritional variations on digestive enzyme and fatty acid patterns of the calanoid copepod Temora longicornis

► In experiments the copepod T. longicornis responded quickly to dietary changes. ► Lipolytic enzyme patterns changed although the lipolytic activity was constant. ► Induced by food quality, new enzymes appeared while others disappeared. ► Dietary fatty acids accumulated in the females within 24 h. ► T. longicornis can successfully exploit short-lived food sources.