How do diatoms grow?

Diatoms are mostly dividing and therefor get smaller and smaller: Most growth is through vegetative growth – asexual. When they reach minimum size they do sexual reproduction. The vegetative growth makes an exponential curve Growth rate is very important for succes. In optimal conditions the ones with highest growth rates outcompedes the others. So in spring diatoms outcompete dinoflagelates but dinoflagelates are better with limied nutriants and therefor win later on