Primary Production around the Galapagos Islands and the effects of cloud cover and differing light regimes

Abstract

This paper highlights my study on the effects of cloud cover on the primary production around the Galapagos Islands in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean. Primary production is the photosynthesis done by marine phytoplankton, who serve as the base of the marine food web. Considerable emphasis has been placed on understanding the controls of primary with much of the focus falling on possible iron limitation. Another factor that has received less attention but is also regionally relevant is the effects of differing light intensities on the phytoplankton growth.