Xiphosurid trackways in a Lower Cretaceous tidal flat in Patagonia: Palaeoecological implications and the involvement of microbial mats in trace-fossil preservation

Fernández, Diana Elizabeth; Pazos, Pablo J.

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.02.008

Cited by 38 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Previous work has indicated that the surface of the seafloor at the time of the Luoping biota was covered by microbial mats 13,22 , which probably substantially contributed to the preservation of the trackways by binding and biostabilisation of the sediment surface 23,24 . We envisage that the nothosaurs positioned themselves at the right level by feeling for the surface of microbial mat, and then punted forwards at slow speeds by rowing, or alternately striding, with their forelimbs (Figs 7 and 8).…”

Section: Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Nothosaur foraging tracks from the Middle Triassic of southwestern China

Zhang

Wen

et al. 2014

Nat Commun

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The seas of the Mesozoic (266-66 Myr ago) were remarkable for predatory marine reptiles, but their modes of locomotion have been debated. One problem has been the absence of tracks, although there is no reason to expect that swimmers would produce tracks. We report here seabed tracks made by Mesozoic marine reptiles, produced by the paddles of nothosaurs (Reptilia, Sauropterygia) in the Middle Triassic of the Luoping localities in Yunnan, southwestern China. These show that the track-making nothosaurs used their forelimbs for propulsion, they generally rowed (both forelimbs operating in unison rather than alternately), and the forelimb entered medially, dug in as the paddle tip gained purchase, and withdrew cleanly. These inferences may provide evidence for swimming modes, or it could be argued that the locomotory modes indicated by the tracks were restricted to such contact propulsion. Such punting behaviour may have been used to flush prey from the bottom muds.

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Section: Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Nothosaur foraging tracks from the Middle Triassic of southwestern China

Zhang

Wen

et al. 2014

Nat Commun

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“…Lockeia is commonly interpreted as a shallow-marine trace fossil (Pollard 1981;Kim 1994;Uchman et al 2004a;Buatois and Mángano 2011;Fernández and Pazos 2013). In carbonate deposits Lockeia and Protovirgularia characterize inner-outer ramp deposits (Knaust 2007a.…”

Section: Planolites-palaeophycus Ichnoassociation (Ia 5)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace fossils from the Lower Muschelkalk of Raciborowice Górne (North Sudetic Synclinorium, SW Poland) and their palaeoenvironmental interpretation

Chrząstek¹

2013

Acta Geologica Polonica

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The following trace fossils have been recognised in the Lower Muschelkalk of Raciborowice Gorne (North Sudetic Synclinorium, SW Poland): Archaeonassa fossulata, Balanoglossites triadicus, ?Gastrochaenolites isp., Lockeia isp., Palaeophycus tubularis, Palaeophycus isp., ?Planolites beverleyensis, P. montanus, Planolites isp., ?Protovirgularia isp., Rhizocorallium commune var. auriforme, R. commune var. irregulare, R. jenense, Skolithos linearis, Thalassinoides suevicus and Trypanites weisei. Coprolites and an unidentified trace fossil A are also described. The trace fossils allow the discrimination of five ichnoassociations in the Raciborowice Gorne section: (IA 1) Rhizocorallium- Pholeus, (IA 2) Rhizocorallium-Palaeophycus, (IA 3) Thalassinoides, (IA 4) Trypanites-Balanoglossites and (IA 5) Planolites-Palaeophycus. The Lower Muschelkalk succession was deposited on a shallow carbonate ramp affected by frequent storms. Deposition commenced with sedimentation in a restricted lagoon on the inner ramp with a short episode of sabkha formation. It continued on the middle and outer ramp and then on a skeletal shoal of the outer ramp and in an open basin. Ichnoassociation IA 5 is related to a maximum transgression that commenced with the deposition of the Spiriferina Bed and which probably marked the opening of the Silesian-Moravian Gate. The basin underwent two shallowing episodes, as evidenced by ichnoassociations IA 3-IA 4, resulting in the formation of hardgrounds. Bathymetric changes in the Raciborowice Gorne section correspond well with a general transgressive trend in the Germanic Basin.

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“…Traces produced in marine ecosystems have long been studied (Dapples, 1938;Moore, 1938;MacGinitie, 1945;Barnes and Powell, 1950;Frey, 1968;Ginrgras et al, 2008), but more recent studies have begun to focus on the traces found in continental ecosystems (Ahlbrandt et al, 1978;Ratcliffe and Fagerstrom, 1980;O'Green and Busacca, 2001;Gingras et al, 2002;Hembree and Hasiotis, 2006;Lawfield and Pickerill, 2006;Genise et al, 2009;Hamer and Sheldon, 2010;Buynevich et al, 2011). Trace fossils may be used to infer the presence of organisms whose bodies are rarely fossilized (Cameron, 1969;de Gibert et al, 2000;Chin et al, 2013;Fernández and Pazos, 2013) and to interpret the environmental conditions under which the trace was produced (Turner et al, 1981;Savrda and Bottjer, 1986;Maples and Archer, 1989;Kraus and Hasiotis, 2006;Dashtgard et al, 2008). These interpretations are possible because of studies of living tracemakers in the field and laboratory (Hasiotis, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neoichnology of the burrowing spiders Gorgyrella inermis (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae) and Hogna lenta(Araneomorphae: Lycosidae)

Hils

Hembree

2015

Palaeontologia Electronica

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Burrowing arachnids are important to modern soil ecosystems, but knowledge of these animals in ancient soil ecosystems is limited. In this study, two species of burrowing spiders were studied: Gorgyrella inermis (South African trapdoor spider) and Hogna lenta (field wolf spider). Individuals of each species were studied to investigate their burrowing techniques and behaviors and to categorize the morphologies of their burrows. Experiments were run with variations in sediment density and sediment moisture to evaluate the effects of environmental conditions on burrow morphology. Seven burrow architectures were produced by the spiders: vertical shafts, vertical shafts with terminal chambers, subvertical shafts, subvertical shafts with terminal chambers, Jshaped burrows, Y-shaped burrows, and isolated chambers. All burrow architectures share common features that make them identifiable as spider burrows. Sediment density and moisture had little influence on burrow morphology, but architecture diversity was greatest in sediments of moderate density and moisture. Results from this study show that spiders produce unique biogenic structures that can be distinguished from the burrows of other soil organisms. Data collected from this study can be used to better interpret the paleoecology and evolutionary history of spiders and soil arthropods.

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Xiphosurid trackways in a Lower Cretaceous tidal flat in Patagonia: Palaeoecological implications and the involvement of microbial mats in trace-fossil preservation

Cited by 38 publications

References 34 publications

Nothosaur foraging tracks from the Middle Triassic of southwestern China

Nothosaur foraging tracks from the Middle Triassic of southwestern China

Trace fossils from the Lower Muschelkalk of Raciborowice Górne (North Sudetic Synclinorium, SW Poland) and their palaeoenvironmental interpretation

Neoichnology of the burrowing spiders Gorgyrella inermis (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae) and Hogna lenta(Araneomorphae: Lycosidae)

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