Biogenic sedimentary structures

Abstract

Trace fossils can be retained as both paleontological and sedimentological entities because they represent not only the morphology and ethology of the tracemakers but also the physical characteristics of the substrate on which the tracemakers lived. In this sense, biogenic sedimentary structures can make meaningful contributions to numerous research fields in the earth sciences, with an integrated approach that articulates ichnological information with other sources of data. This is a good approach to reconstruct ancient depositional settings, which notably takes advantage of the integration of both sedimentological/ stratigraphic and ichnological data. In marginal-marine environments (including estuaries), trace fossil assemblages play a major role in distinguishing open-marine, brackish-water, and freshwater/terrestrial deposits.