Zooplankton are a diverse group of small, often microscopic, animals that drift in ocean and freshwater environments. They are an essential component of aquatic ecosystems and serve as a critical link in the food web, primarily by feeding on phytoplankton (the microscopic plant-like organisms) and, in turn, serving as prey for larger animals, such as fish and whales.
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Zooplankton are drifting aquatic consumers, including small animals. In the illustrative food web, the chosen zooplankton feed on algae and serve as prey for small fish; this assumed diet is not a claim about every kind of zooplankton.