ABSTRACT

Phytol and stenols were studied for lake sediments from Syowa and Vestfold Oases in the Antarctic. Phytol and 6 stenols (cholesta-5, 22-dien-3β-ol, cholest-5-en-3β-ol, 24-methylcholesta-5, 22-dien-3β-ol, 24-methylcholest-5-en-3β-ol, 24-ethylcholesta-5, 22-dien-3β-ol and 24-ethylcholest-5-en-3β-ol) were found, with concentrations ranging from 0.099 to 38 and 0.079 to 9.0μg g^-1 dry sediment, respectively. The dominant stenols are cholest-5-en-3β-ol, 24-methylcholest-5-en-3β-ol and 24-ethylcholest-5-en-3β-ol. These compounds must be derived mainly from green and blue-green algae, diatoms and mosses. The relative abundances of these stenols should reflect the difference of source organisms in the lakes and the surroundings.