PARMALES IN SEDIMENTS OF PRYDZ BAY, EAST ANTARCTICA - A NEW BIOFACIESAND PALEOENVIRONMENTAL INDICATOR OF COLD-WATER DEPOSITION

Siliceous wall plates of two species of Parmales are present in varyin g abundance in the surficial and downcore sediments of Prydz Bay, East Antarctica. These organisms have a dramatically higher abundance and greater species diversity in polar and sub-polar environments than is seen in temperate and tropical waters. Based on our finding of abundan t and well-preserved walls of these organisms in Antarctic sediments, we suggest that they represent a useful biofacies and paleoenvironment al marker for deposition from cold water, and a potentially new biostr atigraphic tool.