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C H A P T E R

Continental Ichnology: Fundamental Processes and Controls on Tracę Fossil Distribution

Stephen T. Hasiotis

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this chapter is to the fundamental Controls ar are unique to Continental ich' necessary to understand if trać used effectively to interpret the p< palaeohydrologic, palaeoecologic settings of Continental deposits. T new directions in Continental ich. understanding the distribution and aquatic trace-making orgai deposits.

The term Continental is emphasi non-marine because Continental rt that control the deposition and sediments and other media, and • of life on land and its waters (H< 1992). The term non-marine is in it is not an objective term to expi and physicochemical factors that behavior on the continent. Terms 1 freshwater are too restricted in meal inclusive descriptors of the continJ behaviors, and its tracę fossils- Tu quate because it refers to land al Earth. Freshwater is insufficient denotes aquatic Ule in walet w

to bring attention id processes that ology. These are ossils are to be >environmental ; palaeoclimatic i are discussed y that fbcuson ent terrestrial in Continental

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SUMMARY: Continental biota are related to sedi-ment through feeding, dwelling, locomotion, repro-duction, and searching behavior evident as tracks, trails, burrows, nests of animals, and rooting pattems of plants. Such vestiges are preserved in the geologie record as tracę fossils. The lateral and vertical distribution of modem trace-making organisms within an environment is controlled by sediment characteristics, soil moisture, water-table levels, eco-logical associations, and morę. Tracę fossils in the geologie record can be used to interpret the palaeoen-vironmental, palaeoecologic, palaeohydrologic, and palaeoclimatic settings because a well-defined rela-tionship exists between climate, hydrology, soils, environment, and all biodiversity. Tracę fossils also relate Information about soil formation and develop-ment, the type of biologie activity, topography of the landscape and its relationship to groundwater profile, and duration of time that a body of sediment has been stable at the surface with respect to sedimentation ratę. Thus, tracę fossils in the Continental realm are proxies for: (1) biodiversity in terrestrial and aquatic palaeoenvtronments not recorded by body fossils; (2) above- and below-ground palaeoecological associations; (3) palaeosol formation; (4) palaeohydrology and palaeo-grcnjndwater profiles; and (5) seasonal and anitual palaeoclimate indicators and climate change.