Review and prospects of zooplankton ecology in the South China Sea

As secondary producers, zooplankton play an important role in marine food webs and biogeochemical cycles. Due to their small body size, rapid metabolism, and passive drifting lifestyle, zooplankton can respond sensitively to marine environmental changes, making them effective indicators of oceanic variability. Based on a review of scientific investigations of zooplankton in the South China Sea, this paper summarized current knowledge on species composition in the South China Sea, and compared and analyzed the distribution of zooplankton communities in typical ecological habitats (such as the Pearl River Estuary, Daya Bay, coral reefs, and the deep sea) as well as in the northern and southern waters of the South China Sea. It also discussed the effects of monsoons, monsoon-driven ocean currents, water masses and habitat heterogeneity on zooplankton community structure. In light of current hotspots and challenges under the background of climate change and anthropogenic stress, this article pointed out the shortcomings in zooplankton research in the South China Sea and proposed future research directions in biodiversity, ecological functions, and biological oceanography. The aim is to provide a scientific basis for biodiversity conservation, biogeochemical cycle studies, sustainable utilization of marine resources, and scientific support for predicting the adaptability of marine ecosystems to climate change in the South China Sea.