Modelling phytoplankton dynamics in lakes and reservoirs: the problem of in-situ growth rates

Supposing the ability to elect in situ species-specific replication rates of phytoplankton to be an essential step towards the development of sound ecological models of phytoplankton populations in lakes and reservoirs, we promote the case for taking maximum specific growth rates under ideal culture conditions as base, rather than derivations of specific growth rate assembled from models of photosynthetic carbon fixation and nutrient uptake. It is argued that these yield capacities for growth but can greatly exaggerate in-situ replication rates. The use of published regressions of robust properties of organismic assembly is recommended and some relevant model algorithms are outlined.