Zooplankton Research in Indian Seas: A Review

To promote long-term studies on the distribution and diversity of marine zooplankton in Indian seas, a comprehensive review has been carried out based on the available literature. Zooplankton studies in Indian waters started in the early 1900s, and a plethora of literature has accumulated dealing with various aspects of zooplankton, especially from the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and their associated estuaries and backwaters. From this review, a comprehensive description is offered on the species composition and distribution of zooplankton in the Indian Seas. Emphasis is given to reflect the existing knowledge on the variations in zooplankton species composition in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. Copepods emerge as the most dominant component in all of these marine waters, as is the case worldwide. Copepods are more diverse in the Bay of Bengal than in Arabian Sea.