Projects per year
Abstract
A comprehensive systematic neoichnological study was conducted to investigate the affect of substrate conditions on the morphology and survivorship of terrestrial arthropod trackways. Experiments utilized five different extant arthropods, representing a range of body forms and higher taxa: discoid cockroaches (Blaberus discoidalis), emperor scorpions (Pandinus imperator), Chilean rose tarantulas (Grammostola rosea), African giant black millipedes (Archispirostreptus gigas), and common woodlice (Oniscus asellus). Trackways were produced on substrates of various grain size and moisture content, in protocols simulating subaerial and transitional subaqueous–subaerial depositional settings. The results are illustrated systematically to provide a comprehensive record of the morphological variation that can occur in arthropod trackways under different substrate conditions. General morphological trends, of increased definition of individual tracks and loss of tracks within series, are highlighted as “dry to dampground” and “soft to firmground” surface moisture taphoseries in the subaerial and transitional subaqueous–subaerial protocols respectively. Heavier arthropods produced trackways across a broader moisture and grain size range, whilst different arthropods can produce similar trackways under certain conditions. Undertrack fallout was investigated using discoid cockroaches, and the resultant undertrack taphoseries mimics the surface moisture taphoseries. Previous hypotheses on the factors that influence trackway survivorship were also investigated. Increasing concentrations of clay minerals exponentially increases the survivorship of trackways subjected to an air current, whereas increasing surface moisture has a linear affect, and a combination of the two provides excellent conditions for trackway survivorship. The results of this study are fundamental to the study of fossil arthropod trackways and can be used to aid ichnotaxonomic revisions, whilst also facilitating the identification of trace fossil producers and highlighting potential biases in palaeoecological reconstructions based on trace fossils.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 284-307 |
Journal | Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology |
Volume | 255 |
Issue number | 3-4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 13 Nov 2007 |
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'The neoichnology of terrestrial arthropods'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Ichnology of the nonmarine Permian: ichnotaxonomy, palaeoenvironments and palaeoethology of the southwest USA
Minter, N. (PI), Braddy, S. (CoI) & Benton, M. J. (CoI)
1/10/03 → 30/09/07
Project: Research
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Ichnia 2016
Minter, N. (Keynote/plenary speaker)
6 May 2016 → 9 May 2016Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Organism-sediment interactions (University of Leicester)
Minter, N. (Speaker)
21 Oct 2015Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Shinier and shinier toys in neoichnology (University of Bristol)
Minter, N. (Speaker)
27 Feb 2015Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Prizes
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PhD Commendation and Faculty Prize Nomination (University of Bristol)
Minter, N. (Recipient), Jul 2008
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)