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In this map of the Pacific Ocean, the deep blue areas are the nutrient-poor and low-fertility ce ...
In this map of the Pacific Ocean, the deep blue areas are the nutrient-poor and low-fertility central gyres of the major ocean basins. Fewer phytoplankton grow here. The lighter blue areas represent more productive regions with higher rates of nutrient input and consequently higher phytoplankton biomass. The continental shelves and upwelling regions (e.g., along the equator) tend to have higher biomass because of nutrient input.
Credit: Map Courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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