Benthic-Planktonic Algal Dynamics in the Northern Red Sea: Tracing Ecological Stressors on Coral Ecosystems.
The productivity of marine ecosystems, from shorelines to the open pelagic zone, fundamentally relies on phytoplankton (microscopic) and phytobenthic algae (macroscopic and microscopic species living on substrates). These algae form the base of the aquatic food web and are globally critical, generating roughly 50% of the world's oxygen and producing essential organic nutrients like minerals, vitamins, and bioactive compounds. Functioning as the primary producers, algae are the indispensable mechanism that transforms low-energy inorganic substances into high-energy organic matter. This vital metabolic role ensures the stability and sustained operation of both freshwater and marine environments, upon which all other living organisms ultimately depend