Trilobite tracks and other trace fossils from the Upper Cambrian of North Wales

Trace fossils are recorded from eight localities within Upper Cambrian (Ffestiniog Stage) strata in North Wales. Trilobite furrows (Cruziana), resting impressions (Rusophycus), walking and striding tracks (Diplichnites), sideways grazing tracks (Dimorphichnus) and swimming grazing marks (Monomorphichnus, gen. nov.) are described, largely on the basis of over 500 collected specimens, and are figured together with examples of other trace fossil genera including Rouaultia, Phycodes and Monocraterion. The trilobite traces are used to investigate the varied methods of locomotion of the animais. They also indicate the morphology of some of the trilobite hard and soft parts from which it is inferred that most of these traces were probably made by a population consisting of a small number of closely allied species of trilobites belonging to the Olenid family.     

松辽盆地上白垩统陆相遗迹化石及其沉积环境

松辽盆地上白垩统中含有丰富的遗迹化石,通过对该盆地20余口取心井岩心的详细观察,发现了6大类动物遗迹化石15属20种。根据这些遗迹化石的分布规律,在松辽盆地上白垩统中划分出5种遗迹化石组合：（1）Scoyenia遗迹组合,主要成分有Scoyenia gracilis、Skolithos和Planolites,偶见停息迹化石,反映的是遭受周期性暴露的极浅水环境;（2）Skolithos遗迹组合,主要以Skolithos和Cylindricum十分发育为特征,分异度小,丰度高,反映的是高能动水环境。（3）Arenicolites遗迹组合,主要以Arenicolites和Polykladichnus大量发育为特征,还见有Skolithos、Planolites、Thalassinoides和逃逸迹等化石,分异度较高,反映了水流能量较低的浅水环境;（4）Planolites遗迹组合,以密集分布的Planolites十分发育为特征,分异度小,丰度高,见有少量指示缺氧环境的Chondrites化石,反映了水体较平静的还原环境;（5）Fuersichnus遗迹组合,主要由Fuersichnus、Glockeria、Gordia、Megagrapton和Planolites等遗迹分子构成,反映了相对平静的深水环境。     

Misplaced trace fossils in unlikely environments

Graphoglyptids are trace fossils that are generally acknowledged to have had a deep-sea origin, displaying complex, nutrient gathering strategies in response to stable environments with low productivity. However, two recently discovered graphoglyptids in the Permian of New Mexico seem to challenge previous assumptions. Rather than in deep-sea sediments, Spirorhaphe azteca and Augerinoichnus helicoidalis were discovered in tidal flat palaeoenvironments, showing that these behavioural patterns are also carried out by animals in tidal settings. Fine sediments of the region are recognized as the key factor in the preservation of these trace fossils. Presence of graphoglyptids in a transitional environment demonstrates that behaviour is not solely defined by depth, but many intricate factors are involved.     

Oxfordian plug-shaped trace fossils from northwestern Algeria

Plug-shaped trace fossils B. perata, B. hemispherica, Bergaueria isp., Calycraterion samsonowiczi, Conostichus ornatus and Conostichus isp. are found in the middle-upper Oxfordian fine-grained sandstone of the Argiles de Saïda Formation (northwestern Algeria). Except for the trace Calycraterion which is interpreted as an annelid trace, these traces correspond to distinct behaviours of sea anemones, and their occurrence within tempestite deposits is influenced by a stress factors in a storm-dominated environment. The abundance of these plug-shaped trace fossils suggests that the upper Jurassic siliciclastic shelves with fine-grained soft clastic substrate were colonised by actinarian sessile benthos.     

华南泥盆纪遗迹化石及遗迹相

通过对华南泥盆系6条剖面(四川北川甘溪、广西横县六景、广西桂林杨堤、贵州独山大河口—白虎坡、贵州贵阳乌当、四川广元后高坪)的遗迹沉积学系统研究,鉴定和描述遗迹化石15属24种,包括Arenicolites carbonaria,Arenicolites isp.,Chondrites cf.intricatus,Cho...     

Zoophycos and related trace fossils from the Chefar El Ahmar Formation,Upper Emsian-Frasnian Ia-Ib (Ougarta,SW Algeria)

The Upper Emsian to Frasnian Ia-Ib strata of the Marhouma area (or “km 30” outcrop), exposed in the Ougarta Range (SW Algeria) belong to the Chefar El Ahmar Formation. On the basis of distinct lithological and palaeontological features, this formation is subdivided into three members (Lower Marly Limestones Member, Middle Marly Limestones Member, and Upper Marly Limestones Member). The studied beds show low to moderate diversity of trace fossil assemblage which contains thirteen ichnotaxa: Chondrites intricatus, Chondrites isp., Chondrites cf. targionii, Circulichnis cf. montanus, Cochlichnus isp., Neonereites biserialis, Neonereites multiserialis, Nereites isp., Palaeophycus isp., Planolites isp., Thalassinoides isp., Zoophycos aff. cauda-galli, and Zoophycos isp. A. The two latter ichnotaxa are the most common trace fossils in the assemblage and occur at three different levels showing different bioturbation intensities. The first Zoophycos-bearing level (Zl 1) is characterised by an overall high bioturbation intensity reflecting a very high oxygenation rate and nutrient supply, allowing the development of large and dense Zoophycos specimens. The second Zoophycos-bearing level (Zl 2) has a considerable reduction of bioturbation intensity as compared to the previous level, with an abundance of Chondrites, which is probably due to radical palaeoecological changes that suggests dysoxic and stressful conditions. The third Zoophycos-bearing level (Zl 3) is characterised by an overall moderate bioturbation intensity. The distribution of trace fossils was influenced by lithology, sedimentation rate, energy level (storm events), bottom oxygenation, and nutrient supply. The lithofacies and trace fossils of the Chefar El Ahmar Formation both indicate a depositional environment fluctuating from the lower shoreface to lower offshore zone.     

Arenig trace fossils from the Salamanca area,western Spain

Trace fossils are recorded at two localities from the ‘Armorican Quartzite’ (Lower Ordovician) in the Salamanca area, western Spain. Sixteen ichnospecies, belonging to twelve ichnogenera, are described; all ichnospecies occur in the upper part of the unit, only four in the lower part. The ichnogenera comprise Arthrophycus, Cruziana, Daedalus, Didymaulichnus, Diplichnites, Diplocraterion, cf. Gor-. dia, Monomorphichnus, Muensteria, Palaeophycus, Planolites, and Rusophycus. The presence of Cruziana furcifera, C. goldfussi, C. rugosa, and C? cf. imbricata indicate that the upper part of the unit is of Arenig age. The lower part has yielded only the two former ichnospecies and may extend down into the Tremadoc. The species of Cruziana and their stratigraphical significance are discussed.     

Diminutive trace fossils in the Chengjiang Lagerstätte

Diminutive trace fossils described here have been well preserved in connection with certain pliable carapaces or skeletons of the Chengjiang animals. Taphonomic evidence suggests that these traces were formed in situ. The peculiar preservation indicates that some bilaterians of uncertain affinities seem to have been active at the burial site, constituting an important group of the hidden majority of Cambrian marine community. This may be an essential feature closely associated with the palaeoecology and exceptional preservation of the Cambrian fossil Lagerstätten. The rare preservation of such millimetre‐sized trace fossils raises further doubts about the timing of the initial benthic bilaterians by applying trace fossil evidence.     

The mutual climatic range method of palaeoclimate reconstruction based on insect fossils: New applications and interhemispheric comparisons

The Mutual Climatic Range (MCR) method of palaeoclimate reconstruction has been employed in Europe for the last decade. A quantitative, calibrated method, MCR has many advantages over qualitative methods. More recent applications deal with eastern and central North America, and the method is also being developed for desert and arctic faunas. The climate envelopes for North American beetles have been compiled using a 25-km gridded North American climate database that pairs climate parameters with modern collection sites. Modern tests of the reliability of the MCR method for North American species yielded similar results to prior European tests. Linear regressions of predicted on observed values yielded equations used to calibrate the MCR estimates. Work is under way to develop MCR estimates of mean annual precipitation for fossil assemblages from the desert southwest, where moisture conditions may play a more important role in determining beetle species' ranges.An examination of British and North American mean July temperature reconstructions during the Late Wisconsinan glacial interval compares and contrasts three sets of records. The North American records show no indication of the Younger Dryas cooling that is clearly marked in records from northwest Europe. The MCR method adds vigour to our reconstructions, and allows us to compare between regions and with other palaeoenvironmental methods.     

Wind-generated tool marks resembling trace fossils in a shallow estuarine environment

A suite of tool marks were observed in the seaward section of a small estuary on the south coast of New South Wales. The marks were formed through wind-generated waves dragging Eucalyptus leaves and Casuarina fronds over the backshore sands that separate the closed estuary from the sea. Some of the marks formed through the process of tilting, which has not previously been recognised in an Australian setting. A number of the more complex marks closely resemble trace fossils left by fish, and differentiation between the two in the sedimentary record could be difficult. If correctly identified as tool marks, then they could give a spurious estimate of palaeoflow direction, as they correspond to the orientation of the prevailing winds at the time of formation. This study highlights the need for judicious interpretation of ambiguous grooves in the sedimentary record.     

Upper cretaceous (Senonian) bathyal pelagic sediments with Globotruncana from the Solomon Islands

Extremely fine‐grained pelagic oozes overlie basal basaltic lavas on Malaita Island, on the Pacific flank of the Solomon Islands group. These sediments contain up to 20% planktonic (but not benthonic) Foraminifera, but have less than 5% acid‐insoluble clay and little or no terrigenous material. They are associated with radiolarian chert and with finely disseminated marine manganese. The Foraminifera include several species of Globotruncana, referred to G. arca, G. havanensis, G. lapparenti and G. tricarinata. The sediments accumulated in a low‐energy, deep‐water environment (exceeding 1,000 m.) during Late Cretaceous (Senonian) time, probably in the late Senonian. These sediments are the oldest in the Solomon group and older than any so far found in the outer part of the Melanesian re‐entrant. Their age supports the idea that the Solomon Islands began their geological history in the Cretaceous.     

天山南侧第三系遗迹化石新发现

遗迹化石研究具有多方面的意义,而对沉积环境的解释是其中重要的方面。在天山南侧的诸多新生界剖面上首次发现了大量遗迹化石,为地层界面的认识和进一步分析当时的生物面貌、沉积环境提供了重要的证据。发现了3个遗迹化石相,即Scoyenia(斯柯茵迹)遗迹相、Skolithos(石针迹)遗迹相和Glossifungites(舌菌迹)遗迹相,共计有10余个遗迹化石属,这在以陆相为主的地层中是不多见的。另外,在一些剖面上还发现了大量哺乳类足迹化石,对确定当时生物群的面貌和生态环境具积极意义。     

滇中地区上侏罗统叶肢介化石及其地层学意义

在回顾似东方叶肢介科(新科)Eosestlherlopseidae Niu(fam．nov．)内各属的特征、产出层位和分布的基础上，探讨了该科与真叶肢介科的亲缘关系，该科的起源，地层间的沉积间断和该科的迁移，以及Chuanjieestheria(gen．nov．)，Eosestheriopsis，Yunnanograpta(gen．nov．)等属在滇中上侏罗统中的层位演化关系，首次提出麻地山组至安宁组和蛇店组至妥甸组的时代可能为晚侏罗世早期的意见．大体可与中国北方土城子组对比。Eosestheriopsis群和Pseudograpta群分别为中国南方特提斯区和北方太平洋区2个不同生物地理区的产物。这些成果对中国陆相侏罗纪地层划分与对比、生物地理区及其变迁、古构造研究等，都具有理论意义和实际价值。文中还描述了叶肢介的一些新属种。     

Models of diffusion-limited uptake of trace elements in fossils and rates of fossilization

Many fossils are assumed to take up trace elements by a process of combined diffusion plus adsorption (DA), yet in principle composition profiles can be explained by several different diffusion-limited processes, including diffusion plus reaction or recrystallization (DR) and double-medium diffusion (DMD). The DA and DMD models are supported by REE and U composition profiles across fossil teeth, measured by laser-ablation ICP-MS, that show error-function - like diffusion profiles into enamel from the dentine-enamel interface and concentrations in the interior of enamel that are at original biogenic levels or higher. Published composition and age profiles in some Pleistocene bones may be better explained by a DR model. All three diffusion models imply linear behavior between age and distance squared, vastly simplifying U-series dating methods for Pleistocene fossils. Modeled uptake rates for fossil teeth yield a strict minimum bound on durations of about one decade to one century. The similarity of diffusion profiles in teeth, irrespective of depositional ages ranging from ∼30 ka to >30 Ma, implies that uptake occurred quickly, with a maximum duration of a few tens of kyr for typical fossil enamel; faster uptake is implied for typical fossil bone and dentine. Disparities in these uptake estimates compared to some archeological bone may reflect sampling and preservation bias for paleontological vs. archeological materials.     

滇东北地区中三叠统关岭组中发现爬行类足迹化石

滇东北地区中三叠统关岭组中首次发现的四足五趾爬行类动物足迹以大小足迹形式呈一条直线前后相伴出现,足迹形状与人手印非常相似,总体表现为第三趾最长,大拇指具有外翻弯曲特征,初步判断为"手兽"足迹,该发现对研究中生代爬行类生物种属、迁移、运动模式及古地理环境具有极其重要的意义。     

扬子板块西北缘下泥盆统平驿铺组双壳类遗迹化石

四川北部广元地区下泥盆统平驿铺组产出丰富的双壳类遗迹化石,但尚未开展过系统的遗迹学工作,也未进行过行为学与古生态学分析。文中针对四川广元马家剖面平驿铺组中部地层开展沉积学和系统遗迹学研究,在陆棚至近滨带下部沉积中共识别出3个属种的双壳类遗迹化石,包括Lockeia siliquaria,Protovirgularia rugosa,Ptychoplasma vagans,以及其他无脊椎动物门类遗迹化石Cruziana problematica,Dimorphichnus isp.,Lophoctenium isp.等。对双壳类遗迹化石的出现方式、形态以及保存特征的分析表明,平驿铺组中部曾出现过2种类型的双壳类,分属具分叉足(原鳃目)和楔状足的类群。原鳃目分布于过渡带和陆棚区,营沉积物摄食生活;受高能事件或沉积物掩埋影响,它们由停息状态变为“逃逸”状态的行为产生了Pro.rugosa。具楔状足的双壳类依生态类型可分为2类：在过渡带与陆棚区,漫游的、营沉积物摄食的类型产生了Pty.vagans;而在近滨下部,滤食性双壳类居群则在不同期次高能事件的间隙对沉积物进行大规模殖居,产生了L.sil...     

Evolution of Cambrian to Ordovician trace fossils in pelagic deep-sea chert,Australia

Cambrian to Ordovician pelagic radiolarian cherts in the Lachlan Fold Belt in southeastern Australia contain trace fossils demonstrating the faunal diversification that occurred during the Ordovician on the deep-sea floor. The Cambro-Ordovician Howqua Chert has a very low degree of bioturbation, and the trace fossils are small and shallow. In contrast, the late Middle to Late Ordovician cherts are strongly bioturbated with larger, deeper burrows, and contain more morphologically diverse trace fossils. This records a substantial increase in the size, abundance and activity of deep-ocean benthic animals living on the floor of the ocean bordering Australia.     

西藏定结、定日三叠系遗迹化石及其地质意义

西藏定结县、定日县一带的三叠系产大量遗迹化石,可划分为4个遗迹化石组合,对应于Skolithos遗迹相,Cruziana遗迹相和Zoophycos遗迹相.根据遗迹相及其它相标志判别,该区早中三叠世主要为陆棚环境,晚三叠世主要为滨岸环境.对遗迹化石的分析结果表明该区早三叠世存在短暂的缺氧事件.     

Upper Cisuralian palynology and palaeoclimate of Manuguru area Godavari basin,India and their global correlation

The Permian system of the Palaeozoic Erathem is divided into three series, the Early Permian Cisuralian Series, the Middle Permian Guadalupian Series, and the Late Permian Lopingian Series. The Cisuralian Series encompasses the Asselian to Kungurian stages which constitute the basal part of the Gondwana supersequence I. In India, they are represented lithostratigraphically by the Talchir, Karharbari, and Barakar formations. This paper presents the palynological results from the Barakar Formation of the Upper Cisuralian Series from Manuguru which lies in the southeastern part of the Godavari basin. The succession studied comprises 35 subsurface samples from bore hole 1007 represented by clay, shale, sandstone, and coal. The palynofloras in this sequence have a homogenous composition demonstrating that not many significant floral changes took place through the considered stratigraphic range. The entire sequence is characterized by the dominance of nonstriate bisaccate genus Scheuringipollenites and sub-dominance of striate bisaccate genus Faunipollenites(=Protohaploxypinus). The other pollen genera among the nonstriate bisaccates are Rhizomaspora, Primuspollenites, Ibisporites, and Platysaccus. The striate bisaccates include Striatites, Striatopodocarpites, and Stroterosporites. The taeniate taxa are represented by Lueckisporites and Lunatisporites. The common monosaccate genera include Caheniasaccites, Potoniesporites, and Barakarites. Spores are less common and include Latosporites, Brevitriletes, Horriditriletes, Microbaculispora, and Callumispora. They characterize the palynofloral composition of the Lower Barakar Formation. The correlation of this assemblage with some of the biostratigraphic palynozones proposed previously for the Cisuralian sequences of the Paraná Basin of South America, Kalahari Karoo Basin of South Africa, Ruhuhu Basin of Tanzania, East Africa as well as palynoassemblages from South Victoria Land and Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica and Collie Basin of west Australia point out to their Early Permian (Late Sakmarian–Early Artinskian) age. Palynomorphs such as Botryococcus sp., Tetraporinia sp., Balmeela sp. and Leiosphaeridia sp. are also recorded which suggest that these sediments were deposited during post-glacial near shore, cool and humid environment.