Relative abundance of diatom species, biogenic silica and Si/Al over last ~140 kyr, from the East Antarctic continental margin

This dataset contains relative abundance (%) of diatom species, and includes the Eucampia antarctica terminal/intercalary valve ratio (Eucampia index), biogenic silica and Si/Al values from core TAN1302-44, which was collected from the WEGA channel on the continental slope, offshore Adélie Land, East Antarctica. Diatoms were analysed at 10 cm, resolution within interval 350-5 cm-depth, while biogenic silica was analysed every 20 cm, and Si/Al (X-ray Flourescence scanning, XRF) comprises a 3-point average, from every 0.2 cm, of entire core. The data also includes four radiocarbon dates, calculated from 0 cm, 25 cm, 35 cm and 45 cm- depths; Shannon-Wiener biodiversity index based on all species identified, and principal component analysis based on species identified at >1.8% relative abundance (in at least two samples). The main purpose of this dataset compilation was to understand the distribution of species, and species assemblages. The interpretation of the data sets suggests changes in Antarctic sea ice and ocean circulation occured near the ice sheet, over the last glacial cycle. These changes are especially evident in the last glacial, and during the last deglacial (warming).