Welcome to the Guide to the Marine Zooplankton of south eastern Australia, an interactive tool providing a comprehensive, fully illustrated means of identification for the major zooplankton located in south eastern Australia. This interactive key enables rapid identification of over 50 zooplankton taxa. Also included are fact sheets covering taxonomic information, descriptions, photographs, diagrams, distribution information and ecology.

Zooplankton constitute a fascinating, diverse and abundant group of animals living in water bodies throughout the world. Zooplankton encompass representatives of all the major invertebrate phyla, including some that can only be found in the plankton. Since they are the principal diet of most larger pelagic animals, including commercially important fish, their study is an essential component in forming a more complete understanding of the functioning of marine ecosystems.

Identifying zooplankton can be quite challenging and a daunting task as traditional keys have usually been designed for users with a high level of expertise. This online guide allows users to either identify their specimen to major group and species level via an image-based key, or via a diagnostic key.

Authors
Dr Kerrie Swadling
Tasmanian Aquaculture & Fisheries Institute
University of Tasmania

Anita Slotwinski
Tasmanian Aquaculture & Fisheries Institute
University of Tasmania

Assoc. Prof. David Ritz
School of Zoology
University of Tasmania

Dr John Gibson
Tasmanian Aquaculture & Fisheries Institute
University of Tasmania

Dr Graham Hosie
Australian Antarctic Division
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

How to reference this site: Swadling, K.M., Slotwinski, A.S., Ritz, D.A., Gibson, J.A.E., and Hosie, G.W. 2008 Guide to the marine zooplankton of south eastern Australia. Version 1.0 June 2008 www.tafi.org.au/zooplankton