Canada’s Arctic marine food web

From microscopic sea ice algae to polar bears and whales, the Arctic is home to a rich marine food web. It connects the smallest organisms to the largest animals and provides important social, cultural and economic benefits to all people in the North who rely on many of these Arctic species.

Below are just some of the key connections within Canada’s Arctic.

• Ice algae > Zooplankton > Arctic cod > Ringed seal > Polar bear > Human
• Ice algae > Zooplankton > Arctic cod> Seabirds
• Ice algae > Amphipods > Sculpin > Arctic Char > Human

• Phytoplankton > Krill > Bowhead whale > Human
• Phytoplankton > Arctic cod > Narwhal > Human
• Phytoplankton > Blunt gaper clam > Walrus > Human