BIOCHEMICAL-COMPOSITION AND CALORIC POTENTIAL OF ZOOPLANKTON FROM BAY OF BENGAL

Proximate composition and variations in protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash and organic carbon in zooplankton from 42 stations in the Bay of Bengal are reported. Average percentages of moisture, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash and carbon were 85.62, 4.95, 1.54, 0.43, 4.4 and 4.16 respectively on wet weight basis. A good correlation of caloric potential with protein and lipid indicated to a certain extent that protein and lipid act as metabolic reserves of the zooplankton in the area of investigation. No significant correlation was observed between caloric potential and organic carbon. Zooplankton did not show as an extensive source for storage of lipid and carbohydrate.