Bio-chemical variation of zooplankton population

Studies on protein, carbohydrate and lipid content in the 15 different zooplankton groups imply that these substances may have an important role in the marine ecosystem. The bio-chemical compounds of zooplankton showed a higher level of protein and lipid content when compared to carbohydrates level (protein>lipid>carbohydrates). The protein and lipid level exerts a good reciprocal relationship. Among the zooplankton Sagitta enflata species has high protein content (74.3%) followed by Acrocalanus sp. (73%) but in the case of Cnidaria (25.1%) and Ctenophore (25.3%) low protein level were observed. The implications of the above biochemical results are discussed.