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The structure of the zooplankton biotic community and of copepod population in the coastal area of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica) was investigated during the 10th Italian Antarctic Expedition (1994/1995). Zooplankton biotic community consisted mainly of pteropods (Limacina helicina and Clione antarctica), Cyclopoid (Oithona similis), Poecilostomatoid (Oncaea curvata) and Calanoid (Ctenocalanus vanus, Paraeuchaeta antarctica, Metridia gerlachei and Stephos longipes) copepods, ostracods, larval polychaetes and larval euphausiids. Zooplankton abundance ranged from 48.1 ind m-3 to 5968.9 ind m-3, and copepod abundance ranged from 45.2 ind m-3 to 3965.3 ind m-3. The highest peak of zooplankton abundance was observed between 25 m and the surface and was mainly due to the contribution of O. similis, O. curvata and C. vanus. Zooplankton biomass ranged from 5.28 mg m-3 to 13.04 mg m-3 dry weight; the maximum value was observed between 25 m and the surface. Total lipid content varied from 216.44 to 460.73 mg g-1 dry weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]