The composition and abundance of ice algae have been studied in a 64-cm cor
e of seasonal pack ice taken in the southwestern Kara Sea in February 1996.
The cell numbers, biomass and taxonomic diversity of the ice microalgal as
semblages were rather low, and there was a predominance of diatoms. The com
parison of its composition with that of the pelagic microalgal community de
monstrated a great difference between them. The ecological function of the
seasonal ice habitat as a depository for seeding material of the early-spri
ng pelagic diatom is suggested.