The ecological role of zooplankton grazers in the Swan River estuary, Perth, Western Australia, was examined as part of a collaborative research project directed by the Western Australian Estuarine Research Foundation, which was established in response to concern about increasing intensity and persistence of algal blooms. The present study focussed on one component of the zooplankton, the Copepoda, as model zooplankton grazers. A regular zooplankton monitoring programme, undertaken over a two year period, provided data on seasonal patterns of abundance and distribution of zooplankton over a broad spectrum of physical conditions. Relationships were identified between habitat variables, such as algal biomass, dissolved oxygen, salinity and suspended solids and zooplankton distribution, relative abundance and species composition." (Griffin, 2003).

Zooplankton vs Phytoplankton
Have you ever seen the glow of a million tiny bulbs on the oceans at times? These are planktons-tiny organisms that drift along the surface of fresh water. The word plankton originates from the Greek word that means a drifter or a wanderer. There are basically two categories of plankton. Though they are similar in size and ecological importance, there is a world of difference between them.
Basic difference
The most obvious difference between them is that zooplankton is an animal while phytoplankton is actually a plant. Diatoms and algae are two forms of phytoplankton that are commonly seen. Tiny fish or crustaceans like krill are examples of zooplankton.
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