Marine phytoplankton are responsible for over 50% of Earth's global photosynthesis, and are vital for carbon drawdown, and form the base of the aquatic food webs. During the daytime, less than ten percent of the sun's energy is converted and available to primary consumers. In the past 150 years, the invention and proliferation of the light bulb have led to abundant artificial light at night (ALAN). All organisms, from humans to phytoplankton, rely on light to control internal biological functions; the most important for this study is the effect of ALAN on photosynthetic activity. As ALAN intensity's extent increases at about two percent per year, understanding the impact of nighttime light on phytoplankton and marine ecosystems is increasingly critical. The increased intensity and varying wavelength of light may impact the extent of artificial light influence on phytoplankton populations in coastal ecosystems.
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