Zooplankton

Tiny Animal Driftiers

Zooplankton are tiny animals that float in water. They cannot swim against strong currents and move wherever the water carries them. Their name means "animal drifter," because they wander with the water flow.

Unlike phytoplankton, which are plant-like and can make their own food using sunlight, zooplankton need to eat other small organisms to survive. Most zooplankton are very small and can only be seen with a microscope. But some, like jellyfish, are big enough to see without tools.

Many different tiny creatures are zooplankton. These include single-celled organisms and small animals. Some zooplankton can sometimes make their own food and also eat other things, showing how flexible they are.

Zooplankton are important because they help move energy through the food chain, providing food for bigger animals like fish. They come in many sizes and types, from very small to larger ones like tiny crustaceans. They are found in patches throughout the ocean, influenced by water temperature, salt levels, and other factors.

Zooplankton eat other small organisms, like tiny plants called phytoplankton, to survive. They are important for keeping the ocean’s food chain going. Learning about zooplankton helps us understand how ocean ecosystems work.