Zooplankton
Definition of Zooplankton as it relates to Animals, Marine Life, Marine Mammals
Zooplankton are tiny, drifting organisms that inhabit the sunlit zone of both freshwater and marine ecosystems. As animals, they play a crucial role in food chains as primary consumers, feeding on phytoplankton and other microscopic organic matter. Zooplankton can be classified into several groups based on their size, shape, and behavior, including holoplankton, meroplankton, and nektonic plankton. Despite their small size, zooplankton contribute significantly to the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, serving as a critical link between primary producers and higher-level consumers such as fish and marine mammals.