Which algae are important producers of food in the Bering Sea?

In the Bering Sea, diatom algae are the most common species of floating plant life and serve as the principal producers of organic matter. These microscopic organisms form the base of the marine food web, providing essential nutrition for small copepods, which in turn support populations of fish and marine mammals.1

Additionally, in the southern regions of the Bering Sea, large forests of giant brown algae grow on the rocky seafloor, with some species reaching lengths of 200 to 300 feet. While phytoplankton like diatoms are the primary producers in the open water, these benthic algae also contribute to the productivity of the marine environment.12