Life in the Balance: Zooplankton’s Battle in a Changing Environment

Zooplankton are often overlooked but are vital components of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Zooplankton are pivotal in nutrient cycling and ecosystem dynamics as they transfer energy between primary producers and higher trophic levels. However, unprecedented growth in human population and industrialization have exposed aquatic environments to various pollutants, threatening zooplankton communities worldwide. Nutrient over-enrichment, primarily from sewage discharge and agricultural runoff, has caused eutrophication in water bodies. It is altering species composition and favouring the proliferation of certain zooplankton groups while decimating others. As a byproduct of industrialization, heavy metals have infiltrated aquatic ecosystems, accumulating in zooplankton and propagating up the food chain. It poses grave risks to human and ecosystem health. Microplastics (MPs) infiltrating aquatic environments also threaten zooplankton, impairing feeding, growth, and reproduction and altering gene expression. The emergence of pharmaceuticals and antibiotics as environmental contaminants further compounds the plight of zooplankton, disrupting reproduction, survival, and ecological resilience. Pesticides, pervasive in agricultural runoff, harm zooplankton communities significantly, jeopardizing ecosystem stability. Climate change compounds the problem in zooplankton communities by inducing range shifts and phenological changes, altering community dynamics, and heightening vulnerability to other stressors. Regular monitoring of zooplankton has emerged as an invaluable indicator of ecosystem function. As researchers strive to unravel the complex interplay of stressors reshaping aquatic ecosystems, the status of zooplankton communities can signal the urgent need for