It is a unicellular photosynthetic autotroph that has the ability to divide rapidly and contribute to spring phytoplankton blooms.

This hard, porous covering is known as the frustule and causes the cell to be more dense than the surrounding water.

Oceanic currents and surface winds prevent D. brightwellii cells from sinking beneath the euphotic zone.

[3] A long hollow tube called the rimoportula is located centrally and extends from each valve[3] Ditylum brightwellii is found in all global oceans except in polar waters.

[4] Ditylum brightwellii reproduces primarily asexually, creating clonal lineages.