Certain marine phytoplankton contain the enzyme nitrate reductase when growing on nitrate, but only low levels of enzyme were found during growth with ammonium or when the nitrogen source was depleted. Netted samples of oceanic phytoplankton contained the enzyme when taken from waters with nitrate concentrations 2–10 µm. Ammonium was assimilated in preference to nitrate in phytoplankton cultures supplied with both forms of nitrogen at 5–15 µm. Enzyme synthesis and nitrate use began when ammonium was depleted to 0.5–1.0 µm.Nitrate reductase assay of phytoplankton samples is a useful tool in that a positive result indicates utilization of nitrate and a negative one implies growth on ammonium, nitrogen depletion, or, improbably, growth with other N‐sources such as nitrite, urea, or amino acids. The enzyme assay seems especially useful for studying the timecourse of phytoplankton blooms because it provides a sensitive measure of the initiation and cessation of nitrate assimilation.