河南西峡盆地上白垩统河流及湖泊沉积中的遗迹组构

河南西峡盆地上白垩统马家村组沉积厚度巨大,达1 960 m,由辫状河沉积、曲流河沉积和湖泊沉积组成。在河流与湖泊沉积中,发育丰富的遗迹化石,共6种类型,分别为Skolithos linearis、Cylindricumichnosp、Palaeophycus tubularis“J”形潜穴、垂直分枝潜穴和垂直螺旋潜穴。从形态分析,大多数为居住迹,按照遗迹化石产出岩层的岩性、扰动特征和残留遗迹等总体特征,将所发现的遗迹化石层划分为两类遗迹组构,即软底组构和僵底组构。前者主要发育在纹层状极细砂岩和粉砂岩中,潜穴密度大,属种单一,包括Skolithos组构和Palaeophycus组构;后者主要发育在厚层泥岩中,潜穴密度较大,类型稍多,包括由Cylindricum ichnosp、垂直分枝潜穴J形潜穴和垂直螺旋潜穴所组成的遗迹组构。与报道过的其他地区陆相遗迹化石的对比表明,随着时间的推移,河流沉积中的组构特征在白垩纪有明显变化,而浅湖沉积中的遗迹组构表明造迹生物的扰动能力显著加强。     

生物扰动和遗迹组构的描述与分析

运用生物扰动指数和遗迹组构组分图解方法对塔里木盆地塔中地区上泥盆统东河塘组河口沉积中遗迹化石和生物扰动构造进行了描述和分析,从中发现两类遗迹组构,其中Ｔｈａｌａｓｓｉｎｏｉｄｅｓ遗迹组构发育在纯净砂岩中,与河口湾潮汐沙坝有关;Ｓｋｏｌｉｔｈｏｓ－Ｐａｌａｅｏｐｈｙｃｕｓ遗这组构发育在砂、泥互层沉积中,与河口湾潮坪有关。     

伊拉克艾哈代布油田上白垩统Khasib组生物扰动对储层非均质性的影响

生物扰动可改变碳酸盐岩原始沉积组构,影响后期成岩作用,导致生物潜穴与基质间存在物性差异,进而增强碳酸盐岩储层的非均质性.在大量岩心、薄片观察和点渗透率等多种资料分析的基础上,对伊拉克艾哈代布油田上白垩统Khasib组Kh2段生物扰动遗迹组构类型及其对储层非均质性的影响开展研究.结果表明:①Kh2段发育海生迹(Thala...     

滦河三角洲潮坪环境现代生物遗迹组合及其分布特征*

现代生物遗迹的特点、分布和组合特征及其与沉积环境、沉积物性质的关系,对遗迹化石及古环境研究具有重要的实证价值,但现代生物遗迹研究起步较晚,国内研究成果较少。文中论述了滦河三角洲潮坪环境中现代生物遗迹的组成、组合与分布特征,并分析了遗迹组合与沉积环境的关系。研究表明: (1)层面遗迹以节肢动物、环节动物、腹足动物的爬行迹和拖迹为主; 层内遗迹包括垂直或高角度倾斜于层面的潜穴、平行于层面的潜穴,以居住迹为主,丰度高,类型多样。(2)建立了3种生物遗迹组合: 遗迹组合I以Y形和垂直管状潜穴为特征,局部丰度较高,表层潜穴和层面拖迹不发育,造迹生物主要为沙蚕和螃蟹,沉积物底层具有砂含量较高、水动力强、有机质含量低的特点,显示其出现于三角洲潮坪砂质沉积环境;遗迹组合Ⅱ以各种形态的层内潜穴和大量的层面爬行拖迹为特征,层内潜穴包括垂直管状、J形、U形、Y形和分枝形潜穴,丰度高,造迹生物主要是沙蚕和螃蟹,层面遗迹常见爬行拖迹和足辙迹,造迹生物主要为沙蚕、螃蟹、扁玉螺、寄居蟹,沉积物底层具有高泥质含量、高含水率和高有机质含量的特点,形成于三角洲潮坪中低潮区;遗迹组合Ⅲ以与层面近似垂直和与层面近似平行的层内潜穴以及大量的层面运动迹为特征,与层面近似垂直的潜穴包括垂直管状、J形、U形、Y形和复杂分枝形潜穴,造迹生物主要是螃蟹、泥甲虫及其幼虫, 与层面平行的表层潜穴主要是蝼蛄、泥甲虫及其幼虫营造的,层面上的运动迹常见为螃蟹足辙迹和鸟类足迹,沉积物底层具泥质含量高、含水率低、有机质含量高、底质固结程度较高的特点,产生于三角洲潮坪高潮区。(3)基于对遗迹组合和分布特征及其与底层性质和沉积环境关系的分析,建立了三角洲潮坪生物遗迹组合的沉积环境分布模式。该研究成果既可作为古代三角洲潮坪沉积环境的判识依据,也可为相似遗迹化石组合的沉积环境恢复提供佐证。     

杭州湾庵东滨岸潮间带现代沉积物中的生物遗迹特征

杭州湾庵东滨岸潮间带软底质沉积中发现的造迹动物有泥螺、珠带拟蟹守螺、弹涂鱼、宁波泥蟹、沙蚕、竹蛏、虹光亮樱蛤、海葵以及鸟类和植物等,包括软体动物、节肢动物、环节动物、脊索动物、腔肠动物等5个动物门类,共计8属,营造的生物遗迹主要有运动迹（爬迹、拖迹、足辙迹）、居住迹、觅食迹（进食迹）、生殖迹、停息迹、排泄迹、逃逸迹以及鸟类足迹和植物根迹等。分析表明潮间带不同的沉积环境,造迹生物及其遗迹的主要类型、空间分布、丰度、多样性具有明显的差异。1）研究区潮间带不同的沉积环境,造迹生物种类与分布不同,其遗迹的主要类型和分布特征具有明显的差异性,高潮区沉积物主要是富含有机质的砂质泥,生物遗迹包括珠带拟蟹守螺拖迹、停息迹和生殖迹,泥螺拖迹和停息迹,宁波泥蟹的觅食迹、居住迹和足辙迹,沙蚕的拖迹、觅食迹、居住迹和排泄迹,弹涂鱼的爬行迹和居住迹,以及鸟类足迹和植物根迹,其中层面遗迹以珠带拟蟹守螺的拖迹、沙蚕拖迹和觅食迹丰度最高,层内遗迹以沙蚕居住潜穴丰度最高,分布面积最广,扰动程度强烈,宁波泥蟹居住潜穴局部密集,扰动程度强烈,植物根迹密集,深度可达50~60 cm,这些生物遗迹常与平行直脊波痕和干涉波痕共生。中潮区沉积物主要由灰色粉砂和含砂粉砂构成,含水率较高,植被较稀疏。中潮区平坦的潮坪上生物遗迹主要由虹光亮樱蛤的居住潜穴和竹蛏的居住潜穴和摄食迹组成,丰度较高,具有少量泥螺拖迹以及植物根迹和鸟足迹。在中潮区潮沟两侧,沉积物颗粒较细,常见珠带拟蟹守螺的拖迹,宁波泥蟹的居住潜穴、足辙迹,弹涂鱼的爬迹。中潮区潮坪上多发育舌型波痕,生物遗迹多与舌型波痕共生。低潮区沉积物主要是灰色粉砂和粉砂质砂,含水率高,多为汤底,无植被,常见遗迹主要是虹光亮樱蛤的居住潜穴,竹蛏的居住潜穴以及少量海葵居住潜穴。2）沉积物的粒度、含水率影响遗迹的清晰度;3）由于受潮水、波浪运动的冲刷作用,沉积物表面的遗迹易被破坏,保存率极低,底内动物的居住潜穴保存率相对较高。该研究不仅为杭州湾潮间带沉积环境研究提供了新的现代生物遗迹信息,而且也可为古代强潮河口湾潮间带沉积环境中的古遗迹学研究提供借鉴。     

黄河三角洲潮坪环境中现代生物遗迹组成与分布特征

沉积物中的生物遗迹记录是生物与环境相互作用的结果,是沉积环境及生态环境的良好指示标志。通过野外观察和实验室研究方法（取样,粒度分析,CT扫描及三维重构等技术）,研究了黄河三角洲潮坪环境现代生物遗迹的组成与分布特征。取得了以下几点认识:1）潮坪各个微环境中现代生物遗迹的分布有很大的差异性。现代生物遗迹主要分布在潮间带中,并且,从泥坪到混合坪到砂坪依次减少。潮上带主要有日本大眼蟹的层面进食迹和层内U形、Y形、多分叉形的居住潜穴。潮间带的泥坪中有大量日本大眼蟹的层面进食迹和层内U形、Y形、多分叉的居住潜穴,少量双齿围沙蚕的层面爬行迹,觅食迹,和层内的垂直、Y形居住潜穴,跳跳鱼的层面爬行迹,泥螺的层面拖迹,红带织纹螺的层面觅食迹;混合坪中有大量双齿围沙蚕的层面爬行迹,觅食迹和层内的垂直、Y形居住潜穴,少量日本大眼蟹的层面进食迹和层内U形、Y形、多分叉的居住潜穴,托氏昌螺的层面觅食迹,四角蛤的垂直潜穴,少量豆形拳蟹的层面爬行迹和层内Y形居住潜穴,泥螺的层面拖迹;砂坪中有竹蛏的垂直进食和居住潜穴,棒锥螺的觅食迹,以及秀丽织纹螺的觅食迹。2）对日本大眼蟹、双齿围沙蚕和四角蛤所造的层内潜穴,进行了三维重构,为精细研究这些潜穴的建构特征提供了图像基础。     

琼东南盆地北部新近系三亚组遗迹组构特征及其沉积环境

琼东南盆地北部新近系地层厚度巨大,遗迹化石非常发育。在对7口取心井岩心详细观测的基础上,综合利用薄片分析、成像测井与相关实验等资料,对琼东南盆地北部新近系三亚组遗迹组构特征及其沉积环境进行了研究。结果表明:(1)琼东南盆地北部新近系三亚组共识别出遗迹化石14属,根据遗迹化石的类型、产状、丰度和分异度、扰动程度、生物潜穴之间的共生关系等,可划分出5种遗迹组构,其中OphiomorphaThalassinoides遗迹组构主要发育在临滨上部沉积环境中,Palaeophycus遗迹组构主要发育在临滨中部沉积环境中,Planolites-Thalassinoides遗迹组构主要发育在临滨下部沉积环境中,Phycosiphon-Planolites遗迹组构主要发育在浅海上部沉积环境中,Phycosiphon-Chondrites遗迹组构主要发育在浅海下部沉积环境中;(2)根据遗迹组构和测井相分析认为琼东南盆地北部新近系三亚组沉积环境为滨-浅海,三亚组一段的沉积环境为由滨岸向浅海过渡,而三亚组二段的沉积环境为浅海;(3)综合岩相、生物化石、遗迹组构、测井相和沉积微相分析结果,建立了琼东南盆地北部新...     

洛阳龙门地区中寒武统张夏组下部遗迹组构及其沉积环境

洛阳龙门地区中寒武统张夏组为一套富含生物扰动的薄层微晶灰岩和厚层鲕粒灰岩沉积,根据沉积学和遗迹学特征,从中识别出6个遗迹组构,从下到上依次是:潮下低能碳酸盐岩台地中的Planolites montanus遗迹组构,潮下浅水较高能碳酸盐岩台地中的Palaeophycus tubularis-Thalassinoides horizontalis遗迹组构,高、低能交替的滨岸浅滩或开阔台地滩间坪或滩前沉积中的Skolithos linearis-Planolites montanus遗迹组构,深水低能开阔台地沉积中的模糊生物扰动遗迹组构,高能鲕粒浅滩中的Macaronichnus segregatis遗迹组构和潮下低能局限台地环境中的Palaeophycus heberti遗迹组构.龙门地区张夏组由无鲕粒滩的碳酸盐岩台地逐渐向发育厚层鲕粒滩的碳酸盐岩台地演化,沉积环境从滨岸浅滩逐渐演变为无鲕粒滩的开阔台地,并随着海退由深水、开阔台地逐渐变浅形成鲕粒滩、局限台地.      

古海洋氧化还原条件的遗迹化石定量表征特征:以华南二叠纪末生物大灭绝事件为例*

地质历史时期的重大生物—环境事件往往伴随着古海洋海水氧化还原条件的改变,而遗迹化石作为原位保存的生物成因沉积构造,对于解读古海洋氧化还原条件具有显著的优势。通过对前人常用的遗迹学参数进行分析总结,发现遗迹化石多样性、生物扰动强度、潜穴直径、特征遗迹化石组合这4项定量参数可以表征古海洋氧化还原条件的变化。文中以华南二叠系乐平统遗迹化石及生物扰动构造作为研究对象,系统分析了二叠纪末生物大灭绝事件前后遗迹化石参数表征的古海洋氧化还原条件变化特征:自吴家坪期晚期华南古海洋开始出现缺氧,然而该缺氧状态在长兴期不具有持续性,而是呈现出周期性缺氧/贫氧→富氧/有氧的波动特征;在二叠纪末生物大灭绝之前,煤山剖面高精度的定量遗迹学参数指示长兴组24e层顶部存在缺氧事件,并与大灭绝事件有着良好的对应关系。这一实例具体展示了遗迹学参数在古海洋水体氧化还原条件重建中应用前景广阔。     

华北寒武纪—奥陶纪豹皮状碳酸盐岩系生物扰动成因

华北地区寒武系和奥陶系发育了大量的生物扰动白云岩/生物扰动灰岩,选择两个代表性剖面——河南登封寒武系剖面和山西兴县奥陶系剖面进行碳酸盐岩系生物扰动成因研究。河南登封寒武系第二统朱砂洞组中的遗迹化石较单一,主要为Thalassinoides、含有少量Planolites;山西兴县中奥陶统马家沟组五5亚段中遗迹化石较丰富,识别出的遗迹化石共7个遗迹属,分别为Arenicolites、Cylindricum、Helminthopsis、Lorenzinia、Planolites、Teichichnus、Thalassinoides,其中Thalassinoides占主导地位。朱砂洞组主要为滨岸碳酸盐潮坪相,中奥陶统马家沟组五5亚段主要为局限台地相。通过野外地质考察及室内相关实验手段及方法,利用偏光显微镜、扫描电镜对生物潜穴及围岩进行了宏观和微观结构分析,发现生物潜穴内部主要为白云石,基质围岩主要为方解石,生物潜穴在野外露头上表现为颜色不一的斑块状。两个剖面大量发育遗迹化石Thalassinoides(海生迹),Thalassinoides的三维潜穴系统为白云石化流体提供了良好的运移通道,为回流渗透作用提供了有利条件,促进潜穴充填物白云石化,从而形成了大量豹皮状的生物扰动白云岩。     

豫西地区下二叠统太原组遗迹组构及其沉积环境

豫西下二叠统太原组中发育丰富的遗迹化石,常见有Zoophycos,Taenidium,Thalassinoides,Teichichnus,Gordia,Nereites,Chondrites和Planolites等,部分灰岩层中还发育生物扰动构造。根据遗迹化石的形态、组成、产状、分布特征以及丰度、分异度、生物扰动程度的不同,在研究区太原组碳酸盐岩中共识别出5种遗迹组构,包括类型A--Gordia-Planolites遗迹组构、类型B--Rhizocorallium-Thalassinoides遗迹组构、类型C--Zoophycos-Taenidium遗迹组构、类型D--Zoophycos-Speckle burrow强生物扰动遗迹组构、类型E--Chondrites-Nereites遗迹组构。其中类型C根据Zoophycos在剖面上所展现的各种特征,又可细分为3种类型,即类型C-1,C-2和C-3。通过分析宿主岩的沉积特征,表明太原组碳酸盐岩中的遗迹组构主要分布于潟湖潮坪和台内浅滩(类型A)、正常天气浪基面之上的浅海上部或局限台地(类型B,类型C-1和类型C-2)、正常天气浪基面之下的开阔台地(类型C-3,类型D)和风暴浪基面之下的浅海下部或水动力条件类似的较闭塞的沉积环境中(类型E)。     

Ichnofabric characterization of a deep‐marine clastic system: a subsurface study of the Middle Eocene Ainsa System,Spanish Pyrenees

This paper documents a subsurface trace fossil and ichnofabric study of the proximal parts of a structurally confined and channelized sand‐rich, lower slope and proximal basin‐floor deep‐marine system in the Middle Eocene Ainsa basin, Spanish Pyrenees. Five depositional environments are recognized based on sedimentary facies associations, depositional architecture and stratigraphic context (channel axis, channel off‐axis, channel margin, leveé‐overbank and interfan), as well as a channel abandonment phase. Each environment is characterized by distinct and recurring ichnofabrics. Ichnological measurements and observations were recorded from six cores recovered from six wells drilled at a spacing of between 400 m and 500 m at outcrop, and totalling 1213 m in length. From channel axis to levée‐overbank environments, there is a trend of increasing bioturbation intensity and ichnodiversity. Ichnofabrics in channel axis and channel off‐axis environments are characterized by low bioturbation intensity and low ichnodiversity. Thalassinoides‐dominated firmground ichnofabrics associated with erosive sediment gravity flows are common in these environments. In contrast, channel margin and levée‐overbank environments are characterized by ichnofabrics associated with high bioturbation intensity and ichnodiversity. Sediments of the interfan are characterized by the highest bioturbation intensity, associated with burrow mottling and an absence of primary sedimentary structures. This paper demonstrates that in core‐based studies, ichnofabric analysis is an important and valuable tool in discriminating between different environments in channelized deep‐marine siliciclastic systems. The results of this study should find wide applicability in reservoir characterization studies in the petroleum industry, in field‐based analogue ichnofabric studies and other core‐based studies in deep‐water siliciclastic systems worldwide such as the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.     

晋中南地区上石炭统-下二叠统太原组碳酸盐岩中遗迹组构及其沉积环境

晋中南地区上石炭统-下二叠统太原组是一套海陆交互相含煤地层,其中碳酸盐岩中发育丰富的遗迹化石。通过对山西太原西山和陵川附城一带露头剖面遗迹化石的详细观察、鉴定与分析,共识别出10个遗迹属、14个遗迹种,其生态类型包括进食迹10种、觅食迹和居住迹各2种。基于各灰岩层中遗迹化石的组成、产状、大小、潜穴充填物的成分及颜色、宿主岩的岩性等特征,建立了4种遗迹组构及其沉积环境分布模式:类型A:大型Zoophycos-Thalassinoides遗迹组构,出现于海湾(潟湖)及潮坪沉积环境;类型B:大型Zoophycos-Planolites遗迹组构,发育在海平面至正常天气浪基面附近区域的浅海上部沉积环境或水体浅且较平静的局限碳酸盐岩台地环境;类型C:中型Zoophycos-Teichichnus遗迹组构,主要产生在正常天气浪基面之下、风暴浪基面之上的浅海中部沉积环境;类型D:小型Zoophycos-Chondrites遗迹组构,形成于风暴浪基面之下、水体较深且贫氧的浅海下部沉积环境。这一成果可以为精细研究本区太原组的沉积环境变迁史提供重要的生物学信息,也可为煤与煤层气的生成环境提供生物学记录方面的科学依据。     

豫西济源地区中三叠世油房庄组遗迹组构及其环境解释

河南济源地区中三叠世油房庄组发育了一套滨浅湖相的砂泥岩沉积，在该组上段紫红色与黄绿色砂泥岩沉积中发现了大量的遗迹化石。其中高能砂质滨湖沉积中识别出6种遗迹组构:斑状生物扰动组构、Skolithos isp.-Planolites montanus组构、Skolithos verticalis组构、Planolites beverleyensis组构、Skolithos isp.组构和Palaeophycus annulatus 遗迹组构，它们可归入陆相Skolithos遗迹相；极浅湖泥岩夹粉砂岩沉积中识别出3种遗迹组构: Skolithos linearis遗迹组构、Taenidium barretti遗迹组构和植物根迹组构，它们可归入陆相Scoyenia遗迹相。     

遗迹化石对显生宙5大生物-环境事件的响应

通过系统梳理与奥陶纪-志留纪、晚泥盆世弗拉期-法门期、二叠纪-三叠纪、三叠纪-侏罗纪、白垩纪-古近纪之交 的5次生物大灭绝期遗迹化石记录相关的生物和环境事件,发现遗迹化石对5次大灭绝事件为负响应,即在大灭绝事件之后 的残存期和复苏期期间,遗迹化石的多样性、丰度、潜穴直径、生物扰动强度、遗迹组构阶层都大为减小.遗迹化石反映的造迹 生物行为习性和觅食策略在5次生物大灭绝事件后也各有不同,食沉积物性觅食策略在晚奥陶世和晚白垩世大灭绝事件之 后占据主导,滤食性觅食策略在晚三叠世大灭绝事件之后占据主导,机会主义遗迹(如Planolites)、食沉积物性和滤食性等多 种觅食策略和行为习性在晚泥盆世F-F和晚二叠世两次大灭绝事件之后占据主导.晚泥盆世F-F和晚二叠世两次大灭绝事件 之后,遗迹化石记录了底栖生物系统由简单向复杂、由二维向三维生态空间拓展的变化趋势.      

Thalassinoides Ichnofabrics of Lower Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation (Stage 4, Toyonian) on the Yangtze Platform, South China: Improving Paleoenvironmental Interpretations

An analysis of Thalassinoides ichnofabrics in the Cambrian Stage 4 Longwangmiao Formation from six sections near Chonqing in the Middle and Upper Yangtze Block of South China was conducted to promote the understanding of the paleoenvironment of this period. Thalassinoides ichnofabrics are divided into three types according to their morphology,bioturbation index, abundance and related parameters: banded, mottled and grid. The completeness of the ichnofabrics gradually increases from banded to gri...     

Ichnofabrics and geometric configurations of Ophiomorpha within a sequence stratigraphic framework: an example from the Upper Cretaceous US western interior

Ichnofabric in the Upper Cretaceous Sego Sandstone and Anchor Mine Tongue of east-central Utah can be differentiated into two components: (1) discrete Ophiomorpha and (2) mottling and other trace fossils. The ichnofabric index method was employed to evaluate spatial variability of the ichnofabrics within depositional sequences and component systems tracts. Indices were logged for amount of bioturbation caused solely by Ophiomorpha (Oii) and that represented by all other biogenic features (Bii). Values of Oii> 1 are more pervasive in lowstand systems tracts compared to transgressive systems tracts. This is consistent with the predominance of marginal and nearshore marine, sand-dominated settings that are characteristic of lowstands, which are favourable habitats for colonization by Ophiomorpha producers. Ichnofabric index values vary both vertically and laterally within any given systems tract, reflecting differences in physical and biological parameters operating in the palaeoenvironment. These parameters include the total number and behaviours of organisms occupying the substrate, as well as substrate texture and grain size, and rates of sedimentation. The architectural style of Ophiomorpha was examined within five depositional facies: shelf, storm deposit, lower shoreface, shoreface, and estuarine. Inclinations of individual burrow elements were approximated relative to bedding planes, categorized as either vertical, inclined or horizontal, and then plotted on ternary diagrams. Based on the types of facies present, these results suggest that variations in the geometric configurations of Ophiomorpha are controlled primarily by physical energy levels, and the rate and nature of sedimentation. Results of this study have broad implications for understanding the physical factors affecting facies variability within sequences and systems tracts. When coupled with sedimentologic data, recognition of variations in the distribution of ichnofabrics and architectural style of Ophiomorpha can provide additional information useful for characterizing depositional environments, and therefore could be integrated with other basin analysis techniques to test and refine sequence stratigraphic interpretations.     

Linking invertebrate burrow distributions (neoichnology) to physicochemical stresses on a sandy tidal flat: implications for the rock record

Invertebrate burrow distributions (neoichnology) across a modern tidal flat are presented as an analogue for interpreting the ichnology of palaeo‐tidal‐flat successions. Burrow distributions are linked to physical and chemical (physicochemical) stresses to establish the main controls on the distribution of biosedimentary structures. Across the tidal flat, there is clear heterogeneity in both the diversity of traces and the intensity of burrowing. This heterogeneity reflects a myriad of physicochemical stresses, with the sedimentation rate dominating burrow distributions. Across all substrates, the total area occupied by organisms rarely exceeds 3% of the tidal‐flat surface, and is commonly <1%; this equates to a bioturbation index value of one. To reach bioturbation index values of two to six, sediments must be available to biogenic reworking and/or recolonization. With an increasing sedimentation rate, substrates are rapidly buried and re‐exposed, which limits the time when a substrate is available to colonization. For palaeo‐ichnological studies, this research presents several key results. (i) Burrow cross‐cutting relationships in tidal‐flat successions commonly reflect natural heterogeneities in the areal distribution of infaunal communities, rather than infaunal tiering. (ii) Ichnofabric analysis of palaeo‐tidal flats with a high sedimentation rate would yield fabrics that reflect heterogeneities in the areal distribution of infaunal communities rather than variability in the physicochemical stresses of the environment. (iii) The composite trace‐fossil assemblage of tidal flats cannot be attributed to a single ichnofacies, but instead comprises elements typical of multiple ichnofacies. (iv) The main controls on trace assemblages across tidal flats in fully marine settings are sedimentological and include the sedimentation rate and, to a lesser extent, grain size.