SPOROPOLLEN AND ALGAE ASSEMBLAGES IN DEEP-SEA SEDIMENTS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND PALEOCLIMATE AND PALEOENVIRONMENT RECORDED IN THEM

Palynological research of deep-sea sediments in the South China Sea has been carried out. Based on the sporopollen and algae assemblages of the deep-sea sediments in cores 149 and 323 in the South China Sea, four sporopollen zones of core 149 have been distinguished in ascending order:Zone 1(407~270 cm):Pinus-Quercus(evergreen)-Umbellferae-Gramineae-Pteris;Zone 2(270~105 cm):Dacrydium-Quercus-Cyathea-Pinus-Polypodiaceae;Zone 3(105~30 cm):Pinus-Polypodiaceae-Quercus(evergreen)-Pteridium;Zone 4(30~0 cm):Gleditsia-Cyathea-Pinus-Polypodiaceae(30~0 cm).Core 323 also has 4 assemblages. Comparison of palynological zone,palaeoclimate, stratigraphy and oxygen isotope of cores 149 and 323 in the South China Sea is done. The sporopollen zones reflect four stages of vegetation, climate and paleoenvironment evolution of the South China Sea since 75 000 years ago. Combined with oxygen isotope dating, the sporopollen and algae data can give scientific evidences for stratigraphic division and reconstruction of paleoclimate and paleoenvironment in the South China Sea.