The case of the diatoms and the muddled mandalas: Time to recognize diatom adaptations to stratified waters

•Margalef’s mandala remains a key paradigm to depict phytoplankton growth strategies.•Current mandala use oversimplifies the original with a single diatom growth strategy.•Increasing observational evidence indicates a range of diatom growth strategies.•Diatoms are not limited to turbulent waters and may bloom in the stratified ocean.•Models should adopt diatom niche plasticity to predict change in ocean carbon cycling.