“Plankton” as Environmental Biotechnological Tool to Assess Ecological Health Status of Aquatic Ecosystem

Phytoplankton and zooplankton play an important role in fresh and marine ecosystems because of their significant contribution in aquatic food chain as primary and secondary producers. Nearly half of all primary and oxygen production worldwide is made up of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton also significantly accelerates biogeochemical cycles and nutrient (re)cycling in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Because they are a rich supply of vitamins, essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins, pigments, and biologically active primary and secondary metabolites, plankton have taken on a great deal of significance in the field of biotechnology in recent years. The plankton community is one of the most promising sources for novel products due to its vast biodiversity. Microalgae biotechnology has recently been able to satisfy the high demands of the food and pharmaceutical industries.