How do diatoms support the Bering Sea food web?

In the Bering Sea, diatoms serve as the principal producers of organic matter, forming the foundational base of the marine food web. These microscopic, photosynthetic algae are the most common species among the sea's floating plant life, with their largest concentrations found in the shallow regions of the continental shelf.1

Diatoms support the ecosystem by providing a vital food source for copepods, which are small, microscopic crustaceans. These copepods, in turn, serve as essential prey for a wide variety of larger marine life, including fish and mammals. This energy transfer is highly efficient, as diatoms are prolific organisms that convert sunlight into the organic energy necessary to sustain the diverse biological resources of the Bering Sea.12