Abstract:

This paper first presents the composition and distribution of nano- and microdiatoms in sand and grit covered by ice and snow in the intertidal zones of the Zhongshan Station in Larsemann Hills ( 69 °21′～69°25′S, 76°00′～76 °25′E) , East Antarctica. The samples were collected from seven sand grit flat stations in January 1989 and February 1990. The maximum of the cell abundance of nano- and microdiatoms occurred at Station B. The cell abundance was 0.8×10 3～3651×10 3 and 4.5×10 3～2618×10 3 cells per gram sand in January 1989 and February 1990 respectively. The distributional characteristics of nano- and microdiatoms in the intertidal zones was small cell size and high cell abundance. The dominant species was Navicula glaciei .