Palynofacies in samples from IODP EXP 313 Hole 27A record changes in sea level through the lower to middle Miocene. Samples containing large amounts of phytoclasts (plant matter, such as cuticles, stomata and bark) were deposited when regression occurred in response to growth of the Antarctic Ice Cap. Samples with abundant unstructured phytoclasts and high amounts of amorphous organic material (AOM) were deposited when sea level was higher. This is consistent with variations in the ratio of pollen and other terrestrial palynomorphs: dinoflagellates and acritarchs (T:M).  Peaks in T:M can be correlated with sequence-bounding unconformities (e.g. reflectors m3, m5.2, m5.4, and m5.6).