Abundance of phytoliths in sediment core CRP-1 (Table 1)

This report documents phytoliths (siliceous plant fossils) in 16 samples from the Cape Roberts Project core (CRP-1), including the first record of two phytolith forms from monocotyledons (Chionochloid (spool) and Elongate) in Antarctica. The phytoliths found are compared with those extracted from extant plants and other Antarctic sedimentary deposits. The phytolith record is also compared with the three floral assemblages indicated by terrestrial palynomorphs for the Miocene and Quaternary sections of the core.