Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 95-108 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Ichnos |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 3-4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |
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Ichnofossils of the Psilonichnus Ichnofacies and their paleoecological and paleoenvironmental significance in the Scottish Middle Jurassic. / Marshall, P.; Trewin, Nigel Harvey; Hartley, Adrian John.
In: Ichnos, Vol. 9, No. 3-4, 2003, p. 95-108.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Ichnofossils of the Psilonichnus Ichnofacies and their paleoecological and paleoenvironmental significance in the Scottish Middle Jurassic.
AU - Marshall, P.
AU - Trewin, Nigel Harvey
AU - Hartley, Adrian John
N1 - Published online: 18 Jun 2010 Author affiliations Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, Meston Building, Kings College, Aberdeen AB24 3UE Scotland
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
U2 - 10.1080/10420940290208199
DO - 10.1080/10420940290208199
M3 - Article
VL - 9
SP - 95
EP - 108
JO - Ichnos
JF - Ichnos
SN - 1042-0940
IS - 3-4
ER -