Plankton diversity and distribution in marine ecosystem in Japan

Marine area comprises largest ecosystem on earth and plankton is the most significant element of marine ecosystem. Information on plankton diversity and distribution is essential to evaluate the health of marine ecosystems. Kuroshio Current and Tsushima Warm Current, a branch of Kuroshio Current, are the major factors for diversity and distribution of plankton communities surrounding the Japanese Archipelago. This paper summarizes the diversity, richness and distribution of plankton communities based on literatures in Japan. Copepods, cladoceran and chaetognath showed major features of zooplankton whereas diatom showed major features of phytoplankton in marina ecosystem of Japan. Life history studies of plankton in the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean might be useful for better understanding the biodiversity and sustainability of plankton communities in Japan as a temperate region.