Vertebrate and Invertebrate Trace Fossils in the Late Pennsylvanian (Carboniferous) Fluvio-Lacustrine San Giorgio Basin (South-West Sardinia): Remarks on the Oldest Continental Ichnoassociation of Italy
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Abstract:
A new study of the ichnotaxonomy and palaeoecology of the Late Pennsylvanian San Giorgio Basin's trace fossils was carried out. The tetrapod tracks were attributed to Batrachichnus salamandroides and to indet. tracks with a possible small temnospondyl and/or lepospondyl affinity. The invertebrate trace fossils include locomotion traces (Diplichnites isp.), grazing traces (Cochlichnus anguineus), and feeding structures (Treptichnus bifurcus, Treptichnus isp.). The trace fossils were evaluated by means of ichnofacies, highlighting a transitional Scoyenia-Mermia ichnofacies, typical of Carboniferous freshwater settings. The trace fossil co-occurrence and taphonomy was utilized to give a new interpretation of the fossil-bearing lithofacies, which are dolomitic mudstones-fine sandstones expression of marginal lacustrine environments repeatedly subject to flooding (three different ichnoassociations highlight different bathymetry/emersion). This is the oldest continental ichnoassociation of Italy, and its moderately high diversity and complexity suggest further study of this important Carboniferous trace fossil locality.Keywords:
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Relationships between ichnology and uniformitarianism are perhaps less complicated than those of their sister subdisciplines, paleontology and paleoecology. Trace fossils are manifestations of benthic behavior; and these traits, although evolving in significant ways, have remained stable over longer spans of time than individual species of invertebrates. The fossil record of behavior in fact originated earlier than the fossil record of invertebrate body parts. Although macroinvertebrates and their traces exhibit tremendous diversity of form and function, these fit into a relatively small number of behavioral patterns. The patterns, in turn, may correlate with prevailing environmental conditions, resulting in gradients among trace fossil assemblages, or ichnofacies. Behavioral patterns and characteristic ichnofacies therefore constitute the main basis for uniformity in ichnology. Thus, the most fundamental questions are: What is the specific function represented by the trace? How will it change as the tracemaker is influenced by other genetic, physiologic, or ecologic stimuli? In which facies will it likely occur? and what preservational biases are apt to modify the fossil record of this behavior and its environmental distribution? Approached from this standpoint, the present is indeed a key to the ichnologic past, and vice versa. In practice, however, the present has been studied considerably less than its importance would dictate.
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In the Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) Kilmaluag Formation, Great Estuarine Group, on the Isle of Skye, northwest Scotland, are ichnofossils that can be attributed to the burrowing activity of semi-terrestrial crab-like animals. The ichnofossils are preserved within supralittoral breccia-conglomerates and littoral calcareous mudstones and micrites deposited in a closed and shallow, low-salinity to freshwater coastal-lagoon setting. The dominant ichnofossil assemblage is preserved in the supralittoral rocks and comprises variable burrow types forming an ichnocoenosis and assigned to the Psilonichnus ichnofacies. These ichnofossils potentially provide the earliest known record of crab activity and their physiological adaptation to survive in a semi-terrestrial environment. Burrow characteristics include enlarged funnel-shaped apertures, unlined walls, absence of branching or biogenic reworking, inclined to vertical, U- and L-shaped forms and possible basal dwelling chamber. The ichnofossil assemblage preserved in the littoral rocks is attributed to the activity of either semi-terrestrial crabs or shrimps. Ichnofaunal characteristics reveal unique aspects of the paleoenvironments and paleoecology of the tracemaking community, including climatic conditions, substrate characteristics, the possible influence of paleowater table levels, paleoshoreline position, spatial variation in burrow morphology and possible gregarious and territorial behavior.
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Great progresses have been made in ichnology of China since 1980's, which can be summarized as three aspects. (1) Precambrian trace fossils and metazoan origin and evolution were studied. Possible metazoan traces dating about 1 500 Ma~1 800 Ma have been found in North China. (2) A lot of trace fossils, local ichnofacies and ichnofabrics were described from the continental facies to deep sea facies. Studies of trace fossils and ichnofabrics play a great role in reconstruction of palaeoenvironments and sequence stratigraphy. (3) Topology was successfully applied to the study of ichnology. Classification of ichnoclass and ichnofamily were established on the basis of the combination of topology and Euclidean geometry.
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Abstract Trace fossils represent both sedimentological and paleontological entities, representing a unique blending of potential environmental indicators in the rock record. Trace fossils and trace fossil suites can be employed effectively to aid in the recognition of various discontinuity types and to assist in their genetic interpretation. Ichnology may be employed to resolve surfaces of stratigraphic significance in two main ways: 1) through the identification of discontinuities using substrate-controlled ichnofacies, and 2) through careful analysis of vertical softground (penecontemporaneous) ichnologic successions (analogous to facies successions). Ichnological analysis is a valuable but highly under-utilised tool in genetic stratigraphic studies. Integrating the data derived from substrate-controlled ichnofacies with paleoecological data from vertical ichnologic successions greatly enhances the recognition and interpretation of a wide variety of stratigraphic surfaces. When this is coupled with conventional facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy, a powerful approach to the interpretation of the rock record is generated.
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Continental ichnology has been taking an ever increasing importance in stratigraphy. In this paper, Continental Trace Fossils in Semnan area have been studied. Semnan Province is one of the 31 provinces which is located in the north of Iran. In the East of Semnan City, Quaternary deposits occupy about 93% of the surface area, of which the Alluvial represents one of the most important geomorphological features in the area. Nevertheless, the outspread ichnological studies in Semnan City have received lesser attention in Continental Trace Fossils. Based on the systematic ichnology, 6 trace fossils are distinguished, namely Celliforma isp, Coprinisphaera isp, Palaeophycus tubularis, planolithes isp, Tombownichnus plenus, and Skolithos isp. The existence of Rhizoliths along with the tetrapod footprints and the survey of lithofacies all indicate that the trace fossils are related to Coprinisphaera ichnofacies. Based on ichnological and sedimentary facies analysis, the Continental Trace Fossils, in the study area, are located in the flood plain, point bar, and playa environment.
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