Bivalvian trace fossils from the Lower Devonian Pingyipu Formation in northwestern Yangtze Platform
ZHANG Xiaole1,2, WANG Yi1, LIU Jianbo3, HUANG Pu1, XU Honghe1
1 State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy,Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences,Nanjing 210008,China; 2 State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology,China University of Geosciences(Wuhan),Wuhan 430074,China; 3 School of Earth and Space Sciences,Peking University,Beijing 100871,China
Abstract Abundant bivalve trace fossils are found in the Lower Devonian Pingyipu Formation in Guangyuan area,northern Sichuan Province,but systematic ichnological work and behavioral and paleoecological analysis have not been carried out. Close observations on the occurrence,preservation style and morphological features of bivalvian traces provide invaluable information to guide the interpretation of their trace maker,ethological and paleoecological features. Here we carried out sedimentary and systematic ichnology studies on the middle part of the Lower Devonian Pingyipu Formation at the Majia section,Guangyuan area. The results suggest occurrence of bivalvian trace fossils,including Lockeia siliquaria,Protovirgularia rugosa, Ptychoplasma vagans as well as trace fossils of other invertebrate groups such as Cruziana problematica, Dimorphichnus isp.,and Lophoctenium isp. in the lower shoreface to off shore settings. The overall morphological and taphonomic features of the trace fossils suggest that,two major groups,including the cleft-footed(protobranchia)and wedge-footed bivalves occurred in the middle part of the Pingyipu Formation. The protobranchia were deposit-feeding bivalves distributed in the transitional zone and off shore settings. The transition from resting to “escape”state of these bivalves,probably due to erosive events or a higher sedimentation rates,produced the trace fossil Pro. rugosa. The wedge-footed bivalves could be further divided into two groups. The vagile,deposit-feeding type occupied the transitional zone and off shore settings. Their crawling behavior,probably linked to an effort to search for edible material from the sediment generated the trace fossil Pty. vagans. While in the lower shoreface setting,colonies of suspension-feeding bivalves colonized the sediment during relatively tranquil intervals between erosional events. The vertical transition of trace fossil composition in the middle Pingyipu Formation suggests a substitution of Cruziana ichnofacies developed on a relative stiff substrate by the latter Skolithos ichnofacies in an upward shallowing succession.
Fund:State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy of Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology,Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.20192112),the State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology,China University of Geosciences(Wuhan)(No. GBL22002),the Strategic Priority Program of CAS(No. XDB26000000),and the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42172003)]
About author: ZHANG Xiaole,born in 1986,is an assistant research fellow in Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology,Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is engaged in sedimentology and ichnology. E-mail: xlzh@nigpas.ac.cn.
Cite this article:
ZHANG Xiaole,WANG Yi,LIU Jianbo et al. Bivalvian trace fossils from the Lower Devonian Pingyipu Formation in northwestern Yangtze Platform[J]. JOPC, 2023, 25(2): 392-404.
ZHANG Xiaole,WANG Yi,LIU Jianbo et al. Bivalvian trace fossils from the Lower Devonian Pingyipu Formation in northwestern Yangtze Platform[J]. JOPC, 2023, 25(2): 392-404.
[1] 侯鸿飞,万正权,鲜思远,范影年,唐德章,王士涛. 1988. 四川龙门山地区泥盆纪地层古生物及沉积相. 北京: 地质出版社,1-487. [Hou H F,Wang Z Q,Xian S Y, Fan Y N, Tang D Z, Wang S T.1988. Devonian Stratigraphy,Paleontology and Sedimentary Facies of Longmenshan Region,Sichuan. Beijing: Geological Publishing House,1-487] [2] 林文球,刘宗文,王洪峰. 1986. 四川龙门山平驿铺组沉积环境及U形蹼状构造潜穴探讨. 矿物岩石, 6(3): 121-129. [Lin W Q,Liu Z W,Wang H F.1986. The approach to vertical U-shaped spreiten burrow and Lower Devonian Pingyipu Formation nearshore-foreshore depositional environments,Longmen Moutain,Sichuan. Minerals and Rocks, 6(3): 121-129] [3] 鲜思远,陈继荣,万正权. 1995. 四川龙门山甘溪泥盆纪生态地层、层序地层与海平面变化. 岩相古地理, 15(6): 1-47. [Xian S Y,Chen J R,Wan Z Q.1995. Devonian ecostratigraphy,sequence stratigraphy and sea-level changes in Ganxi,Longmen Mountain area,Sichuan. Lithofacies Palaeogeography Collection, 15(6): 1-47] [4] 杨式溥. 1984. 长江三峡志留系遗迹化石及其沉积环境意义. 古生物学报, 23(6): 705-714. [Yang S F.1984. Silurian trace fossils from the Yangzi Gorges and their significance to depositional environments. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, 23(6): 705-714] [5] 张立军,龚一鸣. 2013. 四川龙门山地区下泥盆统平驿铺组的遗迹化石. 古生物学报, 52(1): 86-95. [Zhang L J,Gong Y M.2013. Trace fossils from the Lower Devonian Pingyipu Formation,Longmenshan area,Sichuan. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, 52(1): 86-95] [6] 张欣平,王大任. 1996. 湘西北地区志留、泥盆系遗迹化石再研究. 古生物学报, (4): 475-489. [Zhang X P,Wang D R.1996. A restudy of Silurian-Devonian ichnofossils from northwestern Hunan area. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, (4): 475-489] [7] 郑荣才,刘文均,李祥辉,王洪峰,陈源仁. 1997. 龙门山平驿铺组沉积体系及旋回层序研究. 沉积学报, 15(3): 1-7. [Zheng R C,Liu W J,Li X H,Weng H F,Chen Y R.1997. Depositional systems and cyclic sequences of the PingYipu Formation,Longmenshan Area. Acta Sedimentologica Sinica, 15(3): 1-7] [8] Almar R,Castelle B,Ruessink B G,Sénéchal N,Bonneton P,Marieu V.2010. Two-and three-dimensional double-sandbar system behaviour under intense wave forcing and a meso-macro tidal range. Continental Shelf Research, 30: 781-792. [9] Bandel K.1967. Trace fossils from two upper Pennsylvanian sandstones in Kansas. The University of Kansas Paleontological Contributions, 18: 1-13. [10] Bender K,Davis W R.1984. The effect of feeding by Yoldia limatula on bioturbation. Ophelia, 23: 91-100. [11] Bromley R G.1996. Trace fossils: biology,taphonomy,and applications. 2nd edition. London: Chapman and Hall, 361. [12] Bromley R G,Uchman A,Gregory M R,Martin A J.2003. Hillichnus lobosensis igen. et isp. nov.,a complex trace fossil produced by tellinacean bivalves,Paleocene,Monterey,California,USA. Palaeogeography,Palaeoclimatology,Palaeoecology, 192: 157-186. [13] Crimes T P,Goldring R,Homewood P,Wagoner Stuijvenberg J,Winkler W.1981. Trace fossil assemblages of deep-sea fan deposits,Gurnigel and Schlieren flysch(Cretaceous-Eocene),Switzerland. Ecologae Geologicae Helvetiae, 74: 953-995. [14] Edwards D,Geng B Y,Li C S.2016. New Plants from the Lower Devonian Pingyipu Group,Jiangyou County,Sichuan Province,China. PLoS One, 11: e0163549. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163549. [15] Ekdale A A,Bromley R G.2001. A day and a night in the life of a cleft-foot clam: Protovirgularia-Lockeia-Lophoctenium. Lethaia, 34: 119-124. [16] Fenton C L,Fenton M A.1937. Burrows and trails from Pennsylvanian rocks of Texas. American Midland Naturalist, 18: 1079-1084. [17] Fernández D E,Pazos P J,Aguirre-Urreta M B.2010. Protovirgularia dichotoma-Protovirgularia rugosa: an example of a compound trace fossil from the Lower Cretaceous(Agrio Formation)of the Neuquén Basin,Argentina. Ichnos, 17: 40-47. [18] Fillion D,Pickerill R K.1990. Ichnology of the Lower Ordovician Bell Island and Wabana Groups of eastern Newfoundland. Palaeontographica Canadiana, 7: 1-119. [19] Gingras M K,Dashtgard S E,MacEachern J A,Pemberton S G.2008. Biology of shallow marine ichnology: a modern perspective. Aquatic Biology, 2: 255-268. [20] Hakes W G.1976. Trace fossils and depositional environments of four clastic units,upper Pennsylvanian mega-cyclothems,northeast Kansas. The University of Kansas Palaeontological Contribution, 63: 1-46. [21] Han Y,Pickerill R K.1994. Taxonomic reassessment of Protovirgularia M'Coy 1850 with new examples from the Paleozoic of New Brunswick,eastern Canada. Ichnos, 3: 203-212. [22] Hanken N M,Bromley R G,Thomsen E.2001. Trace fossils of the bivalve Panopea faujasi,Pliocene,Rhodes,Greece. Ichnos, 8: 117-130. [23] Heckel P H.1972. Recognition of ancient shallow marine environments. In: Rigby J K,Hamblin W K(eds). Recognition of ancient sedimentary environments. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication, 16: 226-286. [24] James U P.1879. Description of new species of fossils and remarks on some others,from the Lower and Upper Silurian rocks of Ohio. The Paleontologist, 3: 17-24. [25] Karaszewski W.1975. A new trace fossil from the Lower Jurassic of the Holy Cross Mountains. Académie Polonaise des Sciences Bulletin,Série des Sciences de la Terre, 22: 157-160. [26] Kim J Y.1994. A unique occurrence of Lockeia from the Yeongheung Formation(Middle Ordovician),Yeongweol,Korea. Ichnos, 3: 219-225. [27] Ksiãzgt;kiewicz M.1977. Trace fossils in the Flysch of the Polish Carpathians. Palaeontologia Polonica, 36: 1-208. [28] Luo M,Shi G R.2017. First record of the trace fossil Protovirgularia from the Middle Permian of southeastern Gondwana(southern Sydney Basin,Australia). Alcheringa, 41: 1-15. [29] Ma X P,Liao W H,Wang D M.2009. The Devonian System of China,with a discussion on sea-level change in South China. In: Konigshof P(ed). Devonian Change: Case Studies in Palaeogeography and Palaeoecology. London: The Geological Society,Special Publications, 314: 241-262. [30] Mángano M G,Buatois L A,West R R,Maples C G.1998. Contrasting behavioural and feeding strategies recorded by tidal-flat bivalve trace fossils from the Upper Carboniferous of eastern Kansas. Palaios, 13: 335-351. [31] Mángano M G,Buatois L A,West R R,Maples C G.2002. Ichnology of a Pennsylvanian equatorial tidal flats: the Stull Shale Member at Waverly,eastern Kansas. Kansas Geological Survey Bulletin, 245: 1-133. [32] M'Coy F.1850. On some genera and species of Silurian Radiata in the collection of the University of Cambridge. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 2: 270-290. [33] Miller M F.1984. Distribution of biogenic structures in Paleozoic nonmarine and marine margin sequences: an actualistic model. Journal of Paleontology, 58: 550-570. [34] Miller S A,Dyer C B.1878. Contributions to paleontology,No.1. Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, 1: 24-39. [35] Nara M,Ikari Y.2011. “Deep-sea bivalvian highways”: an ethological interpretation of branched Protovirgularia of the Palaeogene Muroto-Hanto Group,southwestern Japan. Palaeogeography,Palaeoclimatology,Palaeoecology, 305: 250-255. [36] Osgood R G.1970. Trace fossils of the Cincinnati area. Palaeontographica Americana, 6: 281-444. [37] Paranjape A R,Kulkarni K,Gurav S.2013. Significance of Lockeia and associated trace fossils from the Bada Bagh Member,Jaisalmer Formation,Rajasthan. Journal of Earth System Science, 5: 1359-1371. [38] Pieńkowski G,Uchman A.2009. Ptychoplasma conica isp. n.: a new bivalve locomotion trace fossil from the Lower Jurassic(Hettangian)alluvial sediments of Sołtyków,Holy Cross Mountains,Poland. Geological Quarterly, 53: 397-406. [39] Pohlo R.1982. Evolution of the Tellinacea(Bivalvia). Journal the Molluscan Studies, 48: 245-256. [40] Price T D,Ruessink B G,Castelle B.2014. Morphological coupling in multiple sandbar systems: a review. Earth Surface Dynamics, 2: 309-321. [41] Radley J D,Barker M J,Munt M C.1998. Bivalve trace fossils(Lockeia)from the Barnes High Sandstone(Wealden Group,Lower Cretaceous)of the Wessex Sub-basin,southern England. Cretaceous Research, 19: 505-509. [42] Reineck H E,Singh I B.1980. Depositional Sedimentary Environments with Reference to Terrigenous Clastics(2nd Edition). Berlin: Springer,1-549. [43] Rhoads D C.1963. Rates of sediment reworking by Yoldia limatula in Buzzards Bay,Massachusetts,and Long Island Sound. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 33: 723-727. [44] Rindsberg A K.1994. Ichnology of the Upper Mississippian Hartselle Sandstone of Alabama,with notes on other Carboniferous formations. Geological Survey of Alabama Bulletin, 158: 1-107. [45] Schlirf M,Uchman A,Kummel M.2001. Upper Triassic(Keuper)non-marine trace fossils from the Haßberge area(Franconia,southeastern Germany). Paläontologische Zeitschrift, 75: 71-96. [46] Schröder S,Bedorf D,Beukes N J,Gutzmer J.2011. From BIF to red beds: sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the Paleoproterozoic Koegas Subgroup(South Africa). Sedimentary Geology, 236: 25-44. [47] Seilacher A.2007. Trace Fossil Analysis.Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag,1-238. [48] Seilacher A,Seilacher E.1994. Bivalvian trace fossils: a lesson from actuopaleontology. Courier Forschungs-Institut Senckenberg,169: 5-15. [49] Stanley S M.1970. Relation of shell form to life habits of the Bivalvia(Mollusca). Geological Society of America Memoirs, 125: 1-282. [50] Uchman A.1998. Taxonomy and ethology of flysch trace fossils: revision of the Marian Ksiazkiewicz collection and studies of complementary material. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 68: 105-218. [51] Uchman A,MikulአR,Rinds A K.2011. Mollusc trace fossils Ptychoplasma Fenton and Fenton,1937 and Oravaichnium Plička and Uhrová, 1990: their type material and ichnospecies. Geobios, 44: 387-397. [52] Walker R G,Plint A G.1992. Wave and storm dominated shallow marine systems. In: Walker R G,James N P(eds). Facies Models: Response to Sea Level Change. Stittsville: Geological Association of Canada,219-238. [53] Williamson W C.1887. On some undescribed tracks of invertebrate animals from the Yoredale rocks,and on some inorganic phenomena produced on tidal shores,simulating plant remains. Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society,Memoirs and Proceedings, 10: 19-29. [54] Yonge C M.1939. The protobranchiate Mollusca: a functional interpretation of their structure and evolution. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 230: 79-147. [55] Zhang L J.2014. Lower Devonian tempestites in western Yangtze,South China: insight from Zoophycos ichnofabrics. Geological Journal, 49: 177-187. [56] Zhang L J,Zhao Z.2015. Lower Devonian trace fossils and their paleoenvironmental significance from the western Yangtze Plate,South China. Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences, 24: 325-343. [57] Zhang X L,Liu J B,Wang Y,Xu H H.2020. The earliest known Spongeliomorpha from the Lower Devonian of the northwestern Yangtze Platform,South China. Palaeogeography,Palaeoclimatology,Palaeoecology, 551: 109772. [58] Zonneveld J-P,Gingras M K.2013. The ichnotaxonomy of vertically oriented,bivalve-generated equilibrichnia. Journal of Paleontology, 87: 243-253. [59] Fu S.1991. Funktion,Verhalten und einteilung fucoider und lophocteniider Lebensspuren. Courier Forschungs-Institut Senckenberg, 13: 51-79(In German). [60] Seilacher A.1953. Studien zur Palichnologie. Ⅱ. Die fossilien Ruhespuren(Cubichnia): Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie,Abhandlungen, 98: 87-124(In Germany). [61] De Stefani C.1885. Studi paleozoologici sulle creta superiore e media dell' Apennino settentionale. Atti della Reale Accademia dei Lincei, 4: 73-121(In Italian). [62] Eichwald E.1860. Lethaea rossica ou paléontology de la Russie,1. Stuttgart: Schweizerbart Verlag,1-1657(In French). [63] Nara M.2003. Preferentially oriented Lockeia siliqualia in the Miocene Tatsukushi Formation,southwestern Japan: paleoecology and sedimentological significance of infaunal suspension-feeding bivalves. Journal of the Geological Society of Japan, 109: 710-721(in Japanese with English abstract).
