The concentrations and distributions of particulate biogenic silica （PBSi） in the upper surface waters of Prydz Bay, Antarctica, were investigated during the 27th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition cruises of January 2011. We aimed to characterize the correlations between PBSi and plankton, nutrients and particulate organic carbon. The results showed that the concentrations of biogenic silica ranged from 0.76--19.72 ktmol-dm3 and the average concentration of biogenic silica was 6.06 mol.dm3. The distribution of surface PBSi had significant regional characteristics： The concentrations were higher south of 67S than to the north. The distribution of PBSi, chlorophyll a and particulate organic carbon showed similar patterns, and PBSi distribution had a negative correlation with that of silicate. In the vertical direction, the mole ratio of PBSi and POC （Si/Co） decreased with increasing depth. This trend indicated a higher rate of PBSi dissolution, or a lower rate of organic matter reminer- alization rate, in the upper 200 m.
The content and distribution of Ge is investigated in sediments from the Southern Ocean （Prydz Bay, Antarctica）. The content of Getotal in the sediments ranges from 1.14× 10^-6 to 2.35 × 10^-6 （average of 1.71 × 10^-6） and the highest value occurs at station P3-9 where water depth is 〉 1 000 m. The lowest value occurs at station P4-13 which is near the edge of the Amery ice shelf. The surface sediments have 16%-68% Gebio within Getota~. The distribution trends of Gebio and Getotal are generally similar, and the val- ues outside Prydz Bay are higher than within the bay, bounded at 67°S. The vertical distribution of Ge in sediment cores presents higher values at the surface than in underlying sediments. Values of Gebio appear to positively correlate with biogenic silica （BSiO2） in surface sediments from non-polynyas sea. The vertical distribution of Gebio and BSiO2 is similar in sediments of station P3-16.
