Abstract:Recognition and sampling of traces in unconsolidated sands present a major challenge for ichnologists. This can be partially remedied through the application of high-resolution geophysical techniques, such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR or georadar), which uses electromagnetic impulse for continuous imaging of shallow subsurface. It addition to geological applications, GPR imaging has been used in several studies focused on animal traces as related to conservation of endangered fossorial species (Kinlaw et a… Show more
“…Minter et al ( 2012 ) showed that environmental features such as planes between sediment layers influence ants to tunnel horizontally along them, so a similar phenomenon may have happened here if the infill was preferentially excavated compared to walls of compacted sediment along the hoof print. Since tracks act as depressions that collect material contrasting lithographically with surrounding layers (Buynevich 2011a , 2011b , 2012 , 2015 , 2020 ), burrowers such as ants may also respond to these properties of the infill as they are known to be sensitive to sediment properties such as grain size, coarseness, or cohesiveness when engaging in locomotion and nest-building (Aleksiev et al 2007 ; Bernadou and Fourcassié 2008 ; Toffin et al 2010 ). Fig.…”
Section: Interactions Between Large Vertebrate Trampling and Ground-d...mentioning
Biotic interactions (e.g., predation, competition, commensalism) where organisms directly or indirectly influenced one another are of great interest to those studying the history of life but have been difficult to ascertain from fossils. Considering the usual caveats about the temporal resolution of paleontological data, traces and trace fossils in the sedimentary record can record co-occurrences of organisms or their behaviours with relatively high spatial fidelity in a location. Neoichnological studies and studies on recently buried traces, where direct trophic links or other connections between tracemakers are well-known, may help interpret when and where overlapping traces represented true biotic interactions. Examples from Holocene paleosols and other buried continental sediments in Poland include the tight association between mole and earthworm burrows, forming an ichnofabric representing a predator–prey relationship, and that of intersecting insect and root traces demonstrating the impact of trees as both ecosystem engineers and the basis for food chains. Trampling by ungulates, which leaves hoofprints and other sedimentary disturbances, may result in amensal or commensal effects on some biota in the short term and create heterogeneity that later trace-making organisms, such as invertebrate burrowers, can also respond to in turn, though such modified or composite traces may be challenging to interpret.
“…Minter et al ( 2012 ) showed that environmental features such as planes between sediment layers influence ants to tunnel horizontally along them, so a similar phenomenon may have happened here if the infill was preferentially excavated compared to walls of compacted sediment along the hoof print. Since tracks act as depressions that collect material contrasting lithographically with surrounding layers (Buynevich 2011a , 2011b , 2012 , 2015 , 2020 ), burrowers such as ants may also respond to these properties of the infill as they are known to be sensitive to sediment properties such as grain size, coarseness, or cohesiveness when engaging in locomotion and nest-building (Aleksiev et al 2007 ; Bernadou and Fourcassié 2008 ; Toffin et al 2010 ). Fig.…”
Section: Interactions Between Large Vertebrate Trampling and Ground-d...mentioning
Biotic interactions (e.g., predation, competition, commensalism) where organisms directly or indirectly influenced one another are of great interest to those studying the history of life but have been difficult to ascertain from fossils. Considering the usual caveats about the temporal resolution of paleontological data, traces and trace fossils in the sedimentary record can record co-occurrences of organisms or their behaviours with relatively high spatial fidelity in a location. Neoichnological studies and studies on recently buried traces, where direct trophic links or other connections between tracemakers are well-known, may help interpret when and where overlapping traces represented true biotic interactions. Examples from Holocene paleosols and other buried continental sediments in Poland include the tight association between mole and earthworm burrows, forming an ichnofabric representing a predator–prey relationship, and that of intersecting insect and root traces demonstrating the impact of trees as both ecosystem engineers and the basis for food chains. Trampling by ungulates, which leaves hoofprints and other sedimentary disturbances, may result in amensal or commensal effects on some biota in the short term and create heterogeneity that later trace-making organisms, such as invertebrate burrowers, can also respond to in turn, though such modified or composite traces may be challenging to interpret.
“…In many cases the contrasting layers are darker, organic-rich sands or paleosols compared to lighter sand. Tracks often act as depressions that collect and concentrate denser material or debris which may contrast lithographically with surrounding layers (Buynevich, 2011a(Buynevich, , 2011b(Buynevich, , 2012(Buynevich, , 2015(Buynevich, , 2020 enhancing their preservation and ability to be detected after burial (Figure 3e).…”
Section: Track Morphology In Vertical Cross-sectional Viewmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In Lithuanian beach and dune sands, Buynevich (2015) documented diverse vertebrate tracks, including those of rodents, ungulates, and carnivoran mammals, and discussed how factors such as moisture content and rapid freezing, rapid aeolian burial and heavy-mineral concentration improve their preservation (Buynevich, 2011a(Buynevich, , 2011b(Buynevich, , 2012(Buynevich, , 2015(Buynevich, , 2020. Although Buynevich's research was coastal, its geographical, environmental and climactic proximity means that many of these conditions, as well as particular taxa, would be expected in nearby parts of the ESB.…”
Section: Previously Described Similar Footprintsmentioning
Structures previously suggested to be footprints or tracks, but which have been little described, were observed within Quaternary inland dunes of the European Sand Belt. Excavation of these in several localities of the eastern part of the belt in Poland reveal that they are hoofprints of various ungulate mammals, both wild and domestic, as well as footprints of humans, ranging from potentially as early as the fifth to sixth century to the 19th century or later. Trample grounds and horizons with high densities of tracks are associated with other signs of intensifying usage of dune habitats for pasture and farming, including constrained movement of livestock, relatively well-developed paleosols, and evidence of ploughing. The presence of such abundant life traces not only reflects the presence of individual animals and people in an area, but sheds light on the potential processes and feedbacks that the tracemakers were involved in, in terms of maintaining and modifying the habitats themselves, which were dynamic and changeable. Footprints and their associated sedimentological records can be integrated with archaeological and historical data to analyse anthropogenic influence through time on physical landscapes and on the wild biota.
“…Many larger or persistent traces rework the substrate enough to produce zoogeomorphic-scale impact [Laporte & Behrensmeyer, 1980;Butler, 1995;Scott et al 2008]. In recent decades, novel and refined applications of high-resolution geophysical techniques, such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR or georadar) showed success in effective, rapid, continuous imaging of shallow tracks and large burrows [Stott 1996;Buynevich 2010Buynevich , 2011Urban et al 2019]. A combination of field observations and geophysical imaging must be the first integral step in assessing the appearance, preservation potential and recognition of each trace in a particular environment and substrate type.…”
A diverse quite of vertebrate traces covers beach, aeolian, and bay-side (deflation flats) surfaces along the NW Black Sea coast of Ukraine. These include avian, ungulate, and canid footprints, as well as mammal burrows (length >5 cm; depth ~2 cm). The preservation of biogenic structures is enhanced by rapid burial (low-energy sedimentation or event deposition), algal mat formation, and salt encrustation. Continuous high-frequency (800 MHz) ground-penetrating radar (GPR) imaging aided in visualizing subsurface sections of an active burrow complex within a beach-dune ridge. Images near an active fox burrow captured distinct subsurface anomalies (point-source hyperbolic diffractions) in the upper aeolian section above the water table. Unfilled tunnel sections are easily distinguished from buried roots and other targets based on signal velocity and polarity reversals relative to air-to-sediment response at the ground surface. The diffraction geometry (angle) is related to signal velocity, providing valuable information about relative saturation of the overlying substrate. Decimeter-scale deformation of shallow reflections may be attributed to tracking surfaces, with similar examples found immediately below modern surfaces affected by anthropogenic trampling. It is likely that muddy lagoonal tracking surfaces may be preserved under layers of sand (overwash or aeolian deposition) and, following saltwater expulsion, may be recognized in geophysical images as clear deformed paleo-surfaces. Heavy-mineral concentrations (e.g. magnetite-rich sand) are common for beach and dune horizons that have undergone reworking and such anomalies often accentuate physical and biogenic deformation structures. Due to moderate-to-high fraction of ferri- and paramagnetic minerals, these anomalies are also well-expressed in GPR images due to its electromagnetic signal response. A conceptual framework of trace preservation potential (taphonomy) and geophysical recognition (GPR) suitability is proposed for this coastal region, with implications to paleo-environmental reconstruction.
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