This contribution reviews relationships between turbulence and marine phytoplankton ecology, ranging from the mesoscale to the smallest scales. Phytoplankton life-forms, considered to be survival strategies in a turbulent environment, are briefly presented. The importance of mesoscale hydrodynamics on phytoplankton distributions and organisms physiology and behaviour, are examined. Finally, direct effects of small scale turbulence on phytoplankton are considered.