Devika Balachandran ’14
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Patterns of Zooplankton Diel Vertical Migration in the Global Ocean
This summer, I conducted research at Princeton in the Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences on diel vertical migration of zooplankton to determine if there were any emerging global patterns. I used online databases like the Encyclopedia of Life and Princeton University’s Library Catalog to compile a list of zooplankton species that undergo diel vertical migration and to what depths they are known to migrate. Once I completed some preliminary research, I analyzed the data available on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) online Copepod database manually and usedprograms like R and Microsoft Excel. Upon data analysis, I mapped the results spatially using Generic Mapping Tools and temporally using Microsoft Excel. My internship also entailed attending a number of seminars and talks, which included the exciting 2011 Annual Southern Ocean NOAA Climate Processes Team Meeting. Not only did I learn how to use a lot of useful data analysis programs this summer, but I also learned how to effectively read scientific literature.
2011
Climate and Energy
Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
Jorge Sarmiento, George J. Magee Professor of Geoscience and Geological Engineering, Professor of Geosciences, Director, Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS); Allison Smith, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Geosciences; Daniele Bianchi, Gradu