Biochemical Studies on Some Tropical Estuarine Zooplankton Species

Percentages of protein, carbohydrate and lipid which form the major biochemical constituents of 10 species of zooplankton from Cochin backwaters were estimated. Protein invariably formed the major constituent in terms of dry weight. Carbohydrate content was in general very poor. Both protein and lipid were low for organisms with higher water content and did not show any reciprocal relationship. The results in general supported the vie * that protein may function as a metabolic reserve in zooplankton and that the availability of a constant supply of food may render large amount of lipid storage unnecessary in tropical zooplankton. Information on biochemical composition of tropical zooplankton especially from Indian waters is meagre. Estimation of biochemical constituents of zooplank-ton is important in understanding their physiological functions, metabolism and nutritive value which are relevant to the marine ecosystem, in its energy transfer and secondary production. In this paper major biochemical constituents of 10 zooplankton species from Cochin backwaters, are presented