In this paper the distributional patterns of fern spores are discussed based on 132 surface sediment samples and core samples of 48 sites taken from the outer shelf of the East China Sea and part area of the southern Huanghai Sea, which covers the area between Lat. 26°30'-34°N and Long. 123°-128°E. In general the content of fern spore in the surficial sediments increases from west to east of the area studied. The greatest abundance occurs at the nearby Long. 126°E and then progressively decreases eastwards. There is a decrease tendency in abundance of fern spores from north to south. In the cores, the abundance of fern spores decreases from the upper part to the lower part. The changes in the composition of fern spores are corresponding to their abundance. From the study of fern spores it has been shown that the sporo-pollen assemblage of the Holocene in a given area is mainly composed of fern spores. Thus, the boundary between the Holocene to the Pleistocene in the area studied can be recognized by the abundance and composition of fern spores. In addition, the relationship between the fern spore and current action as well as material source in the outer shelf of the East China Sea are also discussed.
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