Role of Zooplankton in Nutrient Cycling of Freshwater Ecosystems

Abstract

To regulate energy flow and nutrient cycling in freshwater ecosystems, zooplankton are essential trophic linkages between primary producers and higher consumers. Through sloppy feeding, mortality, and excretion, their grazing on phytoplankton affects primary production and community structure and helps recycle vital nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. Zooplankton play an important ecological role in nutrient dynamics as both consumers and recyclers. In addition to affecting species composition via selective grazing on certain types of algae, field surveys and experimental studies show that zooplankton-mediated nutrient regeneration increases nutrient availability in the euphotic zone, which in turn sustains phytoplankton productivity. Zooplankton are functionally diverse in influencing nutrient cycle pathways, and distinctions among taxonomic groups—such as rotifers, copepods, and cladocerans—highlight this diversity. The efficiency and direction of nutrient recycling are impacted by environmental factors such as temperature, eutrophication, and anthropogenic influences, which alter the community structure of zooplankton. Using these ecological insights, the study highlights how important zooplankton are for freshwater ecosystems to be productive, stable, and resilient. preserving ecological services and reducing eutrophication are two of their most important roles in lake management and conservation efforts.