Ichnology in Shallow-marine and Transitional Environments
The ichnology of shallow-marine to transitional environments is a key field of study with respect to understanding the variability of environmental parameters from inshore marginal-marine settings to the offshore transition zone. Over the last decades ichnology has evolved from being a tool to determine bathymetry, becoming the standard palaeoenvironmental methodology by which trace fossils can be used to inform sedimentary facies models. In particular, the analysis of mixed assemblages of invertebrate and vertebrate trace fossils allows detailed palaeoenvironmental and facies analysis. This volume focuses on the ichnological record of shallow-marine to transitional environments through the geological record, in addition to modern ones through neoichnology.
The possible actiniarian sea anemone burrow Bergaueria hemispherica from the Pliensbachian (Lower Jurassic) of the Lusitanian Basin (Central Portugal)
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Published:May 24, 2023
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CiteCitation
Carlos Neto de Carvalho, Ricardo Paredes, 2023. "The possible actiniarian sea anemone burrow Bergaueria hemispherica from the Pliensbachian (Lower Jurassic) of the Lusitanian Basin (Central Portugal)", Ichnology in Shallow-marine and Transitional Environments, C. Cónsole-Gonella, S. de Valais, I. Díaz-Martínez, P. Citton, M. Verde, D. McIlroy
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Abstract
The shallow marine carbonate deposits of the S. Miguel Formation in the Lusitanian Basin reveal erosional events exposing stiff substrates with abundant Bergaueria hemispherica. The ichnoassociation represented by B. hemispherica, Thalassinoides suevicus, Spongeliomorpha isp., Asterosoma ludwigae and Rhizocorallium commune is dated from lowermost Pliensbachian by the association with ammonites from the jamesoni Biozone, brevispina Subzone. The unlined forms of B. hemispherica include peripheral and bottom burrow concentrations of shell debris, annular-like structures in the burrow margin and paired burrows-to-linear clusters that are comparable with the penetrative burrowing mechanism, anchoring and feeding behaviours of sea anemones. From the ethological point of view, and comparing with modern behaviours of burrowing anemones, the B. hemispherica from the Lusitanian Basin may represent temporary burrowing and relocation of actiniarian anemones. Their comparison with either thenarian or athenarian actiniarians may evidence a preferred surficial feeding strategy on the organic-rich muddy sediments they burrowed.
- Actiniaria
- Ammonites
- Ammonoidea
- burrows
- carbonate rocks
- Cephalopoda
- Coimbra Portugal
- Europe
- Iberian Peninsula
- ichnofossils
- Jurassic
- Lower Jurassic
- Lusitanian Basin
- marine environment
- Mesozoic
- Mollusca
- Pliensbachian
- Portugal
- Rhizocorallium
- sedimentary rocks
- shallow-water environment
- Southern Europe
- substrates
- Thalassinoides
- Asterosoma
- Bergaueria
- Thalassinoides suevicus
- Spongeliomorpha
- Rhizocorallium commune
- Asterosoma ludwigae
- Bergaueria hemispherica
- Penela Portugal
- S. Miguel Formation