Maximal growth rates of Antarctic phytoplankton: Only weak dependence on cell size

Maximal growth rates of 15 Antarctic phytoplankton species at 0°C ranged from 0.32 to 0.72 d−1, showing only a weak dependence on cell size. Comparisons were made with two models for size dependence of temperature‐corrected rates of maximal growth. Schlesinger's general phytoplankton model predicts a strong size dependence of growth rates and grossly underestimates the maximal growth rates of the larger species, but gives reasonable estimates for the smallest ones. Banse's marine diatom model assumes a weak size dependence of growth rates and gives generally better predictions.