Abstract Marine ichnology mainly discusses marine invertebrate trace fossils and embraces a long history of more than 200 years,which dates back as far as the Renaissance-the Age of Naturalists. After the Age of Fucoids,Period of Controversy,and the Development of the Modern Approach,marine ichnology is currently in the Modern Era. Key events in the history of marine ichnology include:The preliminary study of marine ichnofossils by naturalists such as Leonardo da Vinci,clarification of “fucoids”as animal traces through experiments by A.G. Nathorst,ethological classification of trace fossils by Adolf Seilacher,establishment of Senckenberg am Meer in Germany by Rudolf Richter,and the proposition and practice of the ichnofacies and ichnofabrics concepts. However,with the vast development of computer and life sciences,along with much progress in experimental tools,a period of interdisciplinary ichnological studies dictate. This review acknowledges the rich legacies of ichnology in the past and highlights three promising areas where marine ichnology can go:(1)three-dimensional morphological reconstruction and behavioral simulation(morphogenesis)of traces fossils;(2)comprehensive ichnotaxonomy incorporating multi-scale geometrical description,such as topology and fractal geometry;and(3)application of geochemical and geobiological analyses. Intensive studies on these three topics will render important messages to the interpretation of fossil behaviors,their palaeobiology,as well as organism-environment interaction and co-evolution on various scales.
About author: Fan Ruoying,born in 1990,is a Ph.D. candidate of China University of Geosciences(Wuhan),and majors in palaeontology and stratigraphy. Now she is mainly engaged in ichnology and sedimentology. E-mail: cugfry@163.com. About the corresponding author Gong Yiming,born in 1958,is a professor and Ph.D. supervisor of China University of Geosciences(Wuhan),and is mainly engaged in ichnology,the Devonian and geobiology. E-mail: ymgong@cug.edu.cn
Cite this article:
Fan Ruoying,Gong Yiming. Achievements,problems and frontiers of marine ichnology[J]. JOPC, 2014, 16(6): 878-896.
Fan Ruoying,Gong Yiming. Achievements,problems and frontiers of marine ichnology[J]. JOPC, 2014, 16(6): 878-896.
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