Abstract: The investigation of patterns of biogenic elements in the Antarctic marine environment and their ecological and environmental effects is crucial for understanding global climate change, carbon cycling, and interactions within ecosystems. It also provides a scientific foundation for predicting the evolutionary patterns of the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Since inaugural Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) in 1984, extensive surveys of the Southern Ocean have been conducted over the years. By utilizing national initiatives such as the “Chinese Pole Environment Comprehensive Investigation & Assessment Programmes” and the “Impact and Response of Antarctic Seas to Climate Change”, continuous and methodical research has been carried out on critical scientific matters concerning the development of the Southern Ocean ecosystem and its environmental components, leading to significant discoveries. This review article examines the Chinese research advancements related to the distribution of marine biogenic elements in the Southern Ocean and their ecological and environmental impacts. It primarily synthesizes research outcomes on the interrelationship between marine biogenic element cycling and planktonic ecosystems, the flux of biogenic material deposition and its seasonal variations, and sedimentary records of upper ocean processes. The ecological processes of Antarctic polynyas and their responses to global climate change are preliminaries discussed. Some suggestions are put forward for the future ecology and environment investigation in the Southern Ocean.

Key words: Southern Ocean, biogenic elements, ecology and environment, CHINARE