Trace-Fossil Systematics - Trace Fossils as Indicators of Sedimentary Environments - page 93

Trails

Imprints

4 %

5 %

Trackways

14 %

n = 585
Ichnogenera

60 %

Burrows

17 %

Bioerosional
trace fossils

FIGURE 8 Frequency of major trace-fossil groups as included in this classification.

particular trace-fossil groups. Of course, the existing key is premature in that it
contains numerous inconsistencies and gaps, which certainly will need improve-
ment. One of the foremost tasks will be the maintenance of the key with a con-
tinuous update of missing and newly introduced ichnogenera (suggestions for
new entries are welcome).
In the longer term, it would be a clear advantage to transform the provided
information into a structured online database, containing all ichnotaxa as a plat-
form for further ichnological work. As known from other, similar databases, a
wealth of useful functionality is available, including filter-based searchability
and linking with additional data (such as images, age distribution, ethological
interpretation, interpreted producer, references). The Zoological Record Online ®
would probably best suit the needs of invertebrate and vertebrate ichnology.
Finally, after having this basic work done, there is still the possibility for a
producer-related interpretation and classification of trace fossils, as many ich-
notaxa already have a producer interpreted at a higher taxonomic level. This
would clearly have the advantage of better linking ecological relationships
between traces and producers and thus would directly contribute to advanced
reconstructions of paleoenvironments based on trace fossils.

5. CONCLUSIONS
The classification of trace fossils is an important requirement for their system-
atic usage and for their employment within the reconstruction of sedimentary
environments. Widely applied is the grouping of trace fossils according to
the behavioral interpretation of their producers, although this may mislead envi-
ronmental analysis in cases where incorrect assumptions on the ethology of
trace fossils were made.
A classification scheme based on significant morphological features (ich-
notaxobases) is proposed in this chapter for burrows, bioerosional trace