浮游动物是海洋生态系统重要的次级生产者，是海洋食物网和生物地球化学循环研究的关键环节。因其个体小、代谢快，随波逐流的生活方式等特点，浮游动物可对海洋环境变动快速响应并能指示环境变化。本文在回顾南海浮游动物科学考察的基础上，概括了南海浮游动物物种多样性的研究现状，比较分析了南海典型生态区（珠江口、大亚湾和岛礁）以及南海北部和南部海域陆架、陆坡和海盆等浮游动物分布特征，明确了季风及驱动的海流、水团以及生境异质性等因素对浮游动物群落结构的影响。结合当前气候变化和人类活动影响背景下浮游动物研究的热点和难点，针对性指出了南海浮游动物研究存在的不足之处并提出在生物多样性和生态功能方面的研究展望，以期为南海生物多样性保护、海洋生物地球化学循环以及海洋生物资源可持续利用等方面提供基础，也为南海海洋生态系统应对气候变化的适应能力提供科学支撑。

Zooplankton, as a secondary producer, play an important role in marine food webs and biogeochemical cycles. Due to their small size, fast metabolism and floating lifestyle, zooplankton can respond quickly to the variability in marine environments and can indicate effectively the changing ocean. Based on a review of the scientific investigation of zooplankton in the South China Sea, this paper summarizes the current status of zooplankton species diversity in the South China Sea, and compares and analyzes the distribution of zooplankton communities in the typical ecological environments (Pearl River Estuary, Daya Bay and coral reefs) and the continental shelf, slope and basin in the northern and southern waters of the South China Sea at both horizontal and vertical scales. The effects of monsoon, monsoon-driven ocean currents, water masses and habitat heterogeneity on zooplankton community structure were discussed. Combined with the hot spots and difficulties in zooplankton research under the background of climate change and human activities, the shortcomings of zooplankton research in the South China Sea were pointed out, and the research prospects in biodiversity, ecological functions and biological oceanography were proposed. It is expected to provide a basic basis for biodiversity conservation, biogeochemical cycles and sustainable utilization of marine resources, as well as scientific support for the adaptability of the marine ecosystem to climate change in the South China Sea.