Zooplankton constitutes a fascinating, diverse and abundant group of animals living in the upper layers of the seas. They are the principal diet of most of the larger pelagic animals, including commercially important fish, so their study is essential in forming a more complete understanding of functioning marine ecosystems.
Plankton are easily captured in simple nets with fine mesh, but because they are small, identification is often difficult. There is no other simple guide to the common types of Zooplankton in this region. Although this book is part of the Fauna of Tasmania series, it will be equally useful in other areas of temperate Australian and New Zealand estuarine and coastal waters.