How are zooplankton divided up?

Zooplankton are primarily divided into two main categories: holoplankton and meroplankton. Holoplankton spend their entire life cycle in the planktonic stage, including organisms like copepods and jellyfish. In contrast, meroplankton are only planktonic during a specific life stage, such as the larval forms of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. Additionally, zooplankton can be classified based on size, habitat, and feeding mechanisms.