Palaeoecology of the Early Permian strata at Heimefrontfjella, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Abstract

Palaeopalynological studies form an integral part of the geological investigation of the Late Paleozoic sedimentary history of Dronning Maud Land. During the examination of organic residues prepared from different localities at Heimefrontfjella, the freshwater green alga Botryococcus was found. Exceptionally well-preserved colonies of Botryococcus were recorded in several samples at two sections of Early Permian age, Lidkvarvet and Locality A. These colonies vary in form and stage of development. By analogy with observations on recent material the following palaeoecological conclusions are drawn: 1) varying environmental and climatic conditions over a length of time existed at Lidkvarvet, and 2) very short ephemeral aquatic conditions existed intermittently at Locality A.