Microzooplankton are important structural and functional components of planktonic ecosystems, acting as top predators within microbial food webs and as nexus between the microbial loop and the classical food chain. They are also important contributors to the diet of mesozooplankton (e.g. in oligotrophic ecosystems microzooplankton-associated carbon supply for copepods surpasses that of phytoplankton), and they have key roles as nutrient recyclers and CO2 producers. This talk will summarize the present knowledge on the role of microzooplankton in the oceans, comparing their relevance on the trophodynamics of different ecosystems with that of mesozooplankton. Furthermore, the contribution of microzooplankton to the diet of mesozooplankton will also be analyzed based on previously published values. The data discussed along the talk will correspond to different oceans, although special stress will be posed on those examples from the GLOBEC-Spain umbrella. Finally, I will try to identify the main deficits and needs of the actual investigation on the subject, and suggests future lines of research to be stressed

Symposium GLOBEC-IMBER España celebrado del 28-30 marzo de 2007 en Valencia.-- 1 page

Peer reviewed