Zooplankton are teeny tiny animals that are typically found near the surface of water. These are not to be confused with phyotoplankton, which are plants. Zooplankton are weak swimmers because of their tiny size, and are often just brought along wherever the currents go. Zooplankton can encompass "haloplankton", which are micropscopic organisms like diatoms and krill, or the larval stages of other aquatic animals. These animals are extremely important to ecosystems, as they form the very base of the food web. Zooplankton are teeny tiny animals that are typically found near the surface of water. These are not to be confused with phyotoplankton, which are plants. Zooplankton are weak swimmers because of their tiny size, and are often just brought along wherever the currents go. Zooplankton can encompass "haloplankton", which are micropscopic organisms like diatoms and krill, or the larval stages of other aquatic animals. These animals are extremely important to ecosystems, as they form the very base of the food web.