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Volume 27.1
January–April 2024
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ISSN: 1094-8074, web version;
1935-3952, print version
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Alfred Uchman. Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3a, PL 30-387 Kraków, Poland; alfred.uchman@uj.edu.pl
Alfred Uchman is an ichnologist working on invertebrate ichnology in marine and non-marine facies, mostly in Europe. His interest is focused mostly on ichnotaxonomy and palaeoecology of trace fossils in deep-sea sediments. He graduated from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. Since that time he is working in the Institute of Geological Sciences of the same university. Alfred Uchman is the titular professor since 2001, a member of the Polish Academy of Art and Sciences and the Polish Academy of Sciences. In 2012-2016 he was the President of the International Ichnological Society.
Andreas Wetzel. Geologisches Institut, Universität Basel, Bernoullistrasse 32, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland; andreas.wetzel@unibas.ch
Andreas Wetzel is sedimentologist working on Holocene and Pleistocene sediments in the South China Sea and also in Mesozoic sedimentary rocks in Switzerland and Argentina. Since his PhD at the University in Kiel (Germany) on bioturbation processes in Late Quaternary deep-sea sediments off NW Africa he is continuously interested in ichnology. From 1980 to 1987 he worked as postdoc and assistant professor at the University of Tübingen (Germany) on physical properties of deep-sea sediments focusing on DSDP and ODP material. Since 1987 he is professor at the University of Basel (Switzerland) teaching sedimentology.
FIGURE 1. Location maps: 1, a part of Europe with main localities of the material studied and indication of the main study area in the Polish Carpathians; 2, the main study area in the Polish Carpathians with indication of several localities of the material studied or reported occurrences of Tubulichnium rectum.
FIGURE 2. Holotype of Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858) and some other key specimens described by Fischer-Ooster (1858) and Książkiewicz (1977), which are housed in the Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde Bern (NMBE) in Switzerland and in the Nature Education Centre of the Jagiellonian University - Museum of Geology, Kraków, Poland, respectively: 1, holotype, originally Halymenites rectus Fischer-Ooster and Chondrites targionii (Cht), Gurnigel Flysch (Maastrichtian), Seeligraben near Gurnigelbad (Switzerland), specimen NMBE 5017471. Detail illustrated in 2 marked by the quadrangle; 2, detail of 1; 3, original of Halymenites minor Fischer-Ooster, 1858 and Chondrites intricatus (Chi) from Gurnigel Flysch (Maastrichtian), Seeligraben near Gurnigelbad (Switzerland), specimen NMBE 5017474; 4, original of Halymenites incrassatus Fischer-Ooster, 1858, Fähnernspitz, Upper Cretaceous, E Switzerland, specimen NMBE 5017470; 5, holotype of Tubulichnium incertum Książkiewicz, 1977 (yellow arrow), other specimen of the same ichnotaxon (Tr) and Scolicia vertebralis (Sv); Ropianka Formation (Inoceramian Beds), Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene, Bachów, Skole Nappe, specimen UJTF 938; 6, detail of 5 showing the holotype.
FIGURE 3. Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858) on upper bedding surfaces from different formations: 1, on the upper surface of turbiditic marl with Chondrites intricatus (Chi), Pagliaro Formation (Paleocene), Cabella Ligure, Northern Apennines, Italy, field photograph; 2, curved example of T. rectum (Tr), Scolicia isp. (Sc) and Phycosiphon incertum (Ph), Ropianka Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Wara, Skole Nappe, Carpathians, Poland, UJTF 1426, Książkiewicz collection; 3, several specimens of T. rectum (Tr), some cross cut by Chondrites intricatus (Chi), Pagliaro Formation (Paleocene), Cabella Ligure, Northern Apennines, Italy, field photograph; 4, specimen with two (1, 2) superimposed pellet pavements. Inoceramian Beds (Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene), Słopnice, INGUJ144P190a; 5; specimens with elevated edges and collapsed roof, Inoceramian Beds (Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene), Słopnice, INGUJ144P140; 6, example of spindle-shaped burrow enlargement, Pagliaro Formation (Paleocene), Cabella Ligure, Northern Apennines, Italy, field photograph; 7, T. rectum cut by Ophiomorpha annulata (Oa), Inoceramian Beds (Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene), Słopnice, INGUJ143P66.
FIGURE 4. Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858) on the lower bedding surfaces (1-3) of and in longitudinal (4) and transverse (5-10) cross-sections of turbiditic sandstones from the Inoceramian Beds (Upper-Cretaceous-Paleocene at Słopnice: 1, note external and internal parts INGUJ144P176; 2, note sandy mantle covering the pelleted part, INGUJ144P193a, 3, note wrinkles on the mantle, INGUJ144P187a; 4, longitudinal cross section (Tr), INGUJ144P193; 5-10, transverse sections, E - INGUJ144P182d, F - INGUJ144P180, G - INGUJ144P192b, H - INGUJ144P170a, I - INGUJ144P190, J - INGUJ144P192c, K - INGUJ144P192.
FIGURE 5. Macroscopic and microscopic and SEM observations of Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858) occurring in turbiditic sandstones of the Inoceramian Beds (Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene), Słopnice, Poland (1, 4-8) and turbiditic marls of the Pagliaro Formation (Paleocene), Italy (2, 3): 1, specimen with elevated edges and bent down roof as seen on upper bedding surface (INGUJ144P195); 2, 3, depressions of pellets in the burrow margin after pellets have been partly or completely removed (INGUJ196P36 and 38); 4, photomicrograph of transverse cross-section; note deformed laminae above the collapsed burrow; 5, 6, burrow margin showing depressions of pellets that have been removed by weathering; 7, part of split pellets in place consisting of clay minerals and siliciclastic silt grains; 8, outer part of a split pellet showing platy minerals oriented ±parallel to surface.
FIGURE 6. Short sections showing position of Tubulichnium rectum and associated traces fossils in strata of the Ropianka Formation (Inoceramian Beds) at Słopnice, Magura Nappe, Carpathians, Poland. GPS coordinates: section A: 49°42.982'N, 020°20.448'E; section B: 49°42.974'N, 20°20.453'E, section C: 49°42.610'N, 20°20.687'E.
FIGURE 7. Stratigraphic range of Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858) and number of formations per stage in which it occurs.
TABLE 1. Occurrences of Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858). * - reserve inclusion in T. rectum; ** - probably not T. rectum.
Formation and general location | Localities | Age | Facies | References |
Al Ayn Formation, Oman | Upper Triassic | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones and shales | Wetzel et al. (2007) | |
Globotruncana Marl, Pieniny Klippen Belt, Carpathians, Poland | Sromowce Wyżne | Turonian | Deep-sea, pelagic and hemipelagic sediments | Książkiewicz (1977) |
Zementmergelserie, Rhenodanubian Flysch, Bavarian Alps, Germany | Kalkgraben quarry, Arzbach Stream, Steinbach near Benediktbeuern, Halbammer Valley | Turonian-Maastrichtian | Turbiditic limestones, marlstones and mudstones | Uchman (1999) |
Sromowce Beds, Pieniny Klippen Belt, Carpathians, Poland | Sromowce Wyżne | Coniacian-Maastrichtian | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones and shales | Książkiewicz (1977) |
Holovnia Marl, Skole Nappe Carpathians, Poland | Krzeczkowa - old quarry | Coniacian-Santonian | Deep-sea marls | This study |
Ropianka Formation (Inoceramian Beds), Skole Nappe, Carpathians, Poland, Ukraine | Poland: Wara, Wołodź, Kuźmina, Bachów, Huwniki, Kalwaria Pacławska (the steram Sopotnik), Wola Romanowa. Ukraine: Dora (Yaremche) | Coniacian-Paleocene | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones and marls | Książkiewicz (1977); this study |
Kropivnik Fucoid Marls, Skole Nappe, Carpathians, Poland | Wiar section | Campanian- lower Maastrichtian | Deep-sea marls | Leszczyński (2004) |
Tuscan Apennines, Italy | Alberese | Campanian-Eocene | Deep-sea marls | Reis (1909); Abel (1935); Seilacher (1959) |
Monte Antola Formation, Ligurian Domain, Northern Apennines, Italy | Vagge, Molino Vecchio, Val Gardenella, Monte Colletto, Candini, Roiale | Late Campanian - Maastrichtian | Deep-sea turbiditic marls, sandstones and shales | Uchman (2007b, 2009) |
Northpenninic Flysch, Alps, E Switzerland | Fähnernspitz Mt. | Upper Cretaceous | Deep-sea turbiditic marls, sandstones and shales | Fischer-Ooster (1858) |
Ropianka Formation, Magura Nappe, Carpathians, Poland | Złatna, Mordarka, Biczyce, Wola Brzezińska, Wola Krogulecka, Siary, Uście Gorlickie, Koninki, Stara Wieś, Lubomierz, Słopnice | Maastrichtian-Paleocene | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones, shales, locally marls | Książkiewicz (1977); Uchman (1991c, 1998); this study |
“Zumaya Flysch”, Basque Country, Spain | No data | Upper Cretaceous - lower Eocene | Deep-sea turbiditic limestones, marls, sandstones and shales | Cummings and Hodgson (2011)* |
Upper Istebna Beds, Silesian Nappe, Carpathians, Poland | Kamesznica (the stream Janoska) | Paleocene | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones and shales | Książkiewicz (1977) |
Kanina Beds, Magura Nappe, Carpathians, Poland | Lubomierz | Paleocene | Deep-sea turbiditic marls and shales | Cieszkowski et al. (1992) |
Itzurun Formation, Basque Country, Spain | Zumaya section | Paleocene | Deep-sea turbiditic Limestones, marls, sandstones and shales | Giannetti (2010) |
Pagliaro Formation, Ligurian Domain, Northern Apennines, Italy | Pallavicino, Celio, Salata, Cabella Ligure, Fubbiano, Borassi | Paleocene | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones, marls and shales | Uchman (2007a); this study |
Greifenstein Sandstone, Wienerwald, Rhenodanubian Flysch, Austria | Hof bei Karsten, Schleifsteinbruch | Eocene | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones and shales | Abel (1935); Uchman (1999); Kern (1978) |
Variegated Shale, Magura Nappe, Carpathians, Poland | Wola Brzezińska | Upper Paleocene-Upper Eocene | Deep-sea shales with turbiditic sandstones | Książkiewicz (1977) |
Szczawnica Formation, Magura Nappe, Carpathians, Poland | Hałuszowa, Krościenko-Łąkcica, Szczawnica, Szlachtowa, Łomnica, Wierchomla Mała, Łosie, Jamne, Jaszcze, Rzyczanów | Upper Paleocene-Lower Eocene | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones and shales | Książkiewicz (1977); Uchman (1991c, 1992a, 2008a); Wetzel and Uchman (1998); this study |
Gurnigel Flysch, Fribourgian Alps, Switzerland | Seeligraben n. Gurnigelbad, Zollhaus | Upper Paleocene | Deep-sea, pelagic and hemipelagic sediments | Fischer-Ooster (1858); Crimes et al. (1981), Uchman (1998, figure 26B, C) |
Flysch del Grivó, Julian Prealps, NE Italy | Clapp, Vernasso | Upper Paleocene-Lower Eocene | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones and shales | Tunis and Uchman (1993, 1996) |
Beloveža Formation, Magura Nappe, Carpathians, Poland | Sidzina, Zbludza | Lower-Middle Eocene | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones and shales | Książkiewicz (1977); this study |
Hieroglyphic Beds, Magura Nappe, Carpathians, Poland | Rajcza (?) | Eocene | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones and shales | Książkiewicz (1977) |
Hieroglyphic Beds, Dukla Nappe, Carpathians, Poland | Daliowa | Eocene | Deep-sea turbiditic sandstones and shales | Książkiewicz (1977) |
Piwniczna Sandstone Member of the Magura Formation, Carpathians, Poland | Tylmanowa-Baszta | Lower Eocene | Deep-sea Turbiditic sandstones and shales | This study |
Bisericani Formation, Marginal Folds Unit, Eastern Carpathians, Romania | Mt. Geamana, Valea Corbu | Upper Eocene | Marls | Krejci-Graf (1936) |
Numidian Flysch, Atlas, Tunisia | Meloula-Tabarka | Upper Oligocene | Thin-bedded turbidites interbedded with light green mudstones | Riahi et al. (2014)* |
Middle Bhuban molasse sediments of Mizoram, Northeast India | No data | Miocene | Intertidal to subtidal clastics | Rajkumar et al. (2012)** |
Hidden subsurface garden on own faeces – the trace fossil Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858) from the Cretaceous-Palaeogene deep-sea sediments
Plain Language Abstract
In the deep-sea, food for benthic organisms is mainly provided by organic matter produced in the photic zone that settles to the seafloor. Due to large water depth, the settling time of organic matter is long and hence, a high proportion of this material becomes oxidized. Thus, the deep-sea floor represents a food-limited habitat. Consequently, a specialized nutritional strategy is essential for long-term survival. To ingest organic-rich material that arrived after a bloom in surface water on the seafloor and to store it in anoxic sediment for later utilization is a successful strategy as described in this study.
Resumen en Español
Reserva oculta en el subsuelo con las propias heces ¬– la traza fósil Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858) de los sedimentos marinos profundos del Cretácico-Paleógeno
Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858) es un tubo, entre oblicuo y horizontal, no ramificado, con terminación cerrada, que tiene márgenes densamente alineados con pellets elipsoidales de naturaleza fangosa. Se presenta en sedimentos marinos profundos de arena fina a fango, siliciclásticos y margosos, principalmente de Turoniense al Eoceno. Probablemente fue producido por organismos semejantes a "gusanos", los cuales se alimentaban de sedimentos ricos en materia orgánica depositados de manera estacional o episódica en el fondo marino. Los pellets fecales se concentraban en las partes profundas de la traza dentro de la zona anóxica más allá de la profundidad a la que usualmente penetran otros excavadores. Durante períodos de escasez de alimento, los pellets se utilizaron como una fuente de nutrición suplementaria. Este comportamiento de acumulación y uso de unas reservas se interpreta como una adaptación a la creciente competencia por los alimentos en el mar profundo después del Cenomaniense.
Palabras clave: icnología; icnotaxonomía; autocoprofagia; cache; flysch; turbiditas
Traducción: Enrique Peñalver (Sociedad Española de Paleontología)
Résumé en Français
Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858) est un tube non branché, oblique à horizontal en cul-de-sac. Il possède une périphérie alignée avec pellets boueux ellipsoidales. Cet ichnotaxon est repartie du Turonian jusq'à l'Eocène et se retrouve dans des sediments marins sableux, siliclastiques et marneux de grand profondeur. Il est produit par des organismes vermiculaires qui se nourrissait de sediment riche en matière organique déposé saisonièrement ou occasionellement sur le fond marin. Les pellets fécales étaient gardés dans le tube plus profond que les terriers' qui pénètre la couche anoxique du sédiment. Pendant des périodes de pénurie alimentaires les organismes utilisaient les pellets comme source de nourriture. Le comportment de construire des dépots alimentaires est interprété comme adapdation à une competition augmentée dans l'abyssale après le Cénomanien.
Translator: Christian Meyer
Deutsche Zusammenfassung
Versteckte unterirdische Gärten auf eigenen Kot-Ausscheidungen – das Spurenfossil Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858) in kretazischen bis paläogenen Tiefsee-Sedimenten
Tubulichnium rectum (Fischer-Ooster, 1858) ist ein schräg bis horizontal im Sediment verlaufender, unverzweigter, blind endender Gang, an dessen Rand sich dicht gepackt elliposidförmige pelitische Kotpillen befinden. Diese Spur tritt in feinsandigen bis pelitischen siliziklastischen und mergeligen Tiefsee-Sedimenten auf, vor allem vom Turon bis zum Eozän. Dieses Spurenfossil wurde wohl von einem wurmförmigen Organismus erzeugt, der organisch-reiches Material aufnahm, das saisonal oder episodisch auf der Meeresbodenoberfläche abgelagert wurde. Es wurde in Form von Kotpillen im Gang in anoxischem Sediment in so grosser Tiefe ausgeschieden, dass es sich ausserhalb der Reichweite anderer Organismen befand. Während Zeiten geringer Nahrungsverfügbarkeit wurden die Kotpillen vermutlich als zusätzlich Nahrung genutzt. Dieses Verhalten, in einem Lager nahrhaftes Material zu speichern, wird als Anpassung der erzeugenden Organismen an ein Habitat gesehen, in dem seit dem Cenoman eine zunehmende Konkurrenz zwischen benthischen Organismen um Nahrung besteht.
Translator: Andreas Wetzel
Arabic
Translator: Ashraf M.T. Elewa
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Review: The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Sea Reptiles
The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Sea Reptiles
Article number: 26.1.1R
April 2023