Zooplankton

Zooplankton are tiny aquatic animals, ranging from 0.02 to 6 mm in size, that swim or drift with the ocean currents. They include copepods, rotifers, cladocerans, ostracods, and larvaceans, among other species. Zooplankton are an important part of the oceanic food web, providing food for fish, some aquatic mammals, and other organisms. They also play a key role in the global carbon cycle by taking up carbon dioxide dissolved in the water column and releasing it through respiration. In addition, they are important indicators of water quality, as their metabolisms are sensitive to changes in temperature and oxygen levels. As such, monitoring changes in zooplankton communities can provide valuable information on the health of an aquatic ecosystem.