The key role of zooplankton in ecosystem services: A perspective of interaction between zooplankton and fish recruitment

Marine biota is a great source of ecosystem services. Recently, the involvement of marine organisms in biotechnological applications has been discovered and become useful for the development of alternative and healthy food, natural medicine and cosmetics. The most known ecosystem service is the provision of seafood; however, fishery management has to be implemented in order to avoid fishing exploitation, depletion of the sea and assure the recruitment by fish larva. This review put in relation the role of zooplankton in the ecosystem and its importance in fish recruitment. Zooplankton and fish are close connected; indeed, their prey-predator relation is an important factor for fish recruitment. Understanding the dynamic and trophic relation among different groups (phytoplankton – zooplankton – fish) and the ecosystem services they give to us, may increase the awareness of the importance to preserve marine environments. Furthermore, this relation is also important for fish aquaculture practices, as it is discussed in the present review. Further researches on potential zooplankton species that may be involved in fish farms may also ameliorate aquaculture services. To preserve the seas from fish depletion and to assure seafood provision, it is fundamental to have deep knowledge about the ecological connections in the marine environment and to obtain fishery management respectful for the environment.