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Trace fossils from the Upper Ordovician (Caradoc) of the Berwyn Hills, Central Wales
Author(s) -
Pickerill R. K.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
geological journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.721
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1099-1034
pISSN - 0072-1050
DOI - 10.1002/gj.3350120101
Subject(s) - ichnofacies , trace fossil , paleontology , geology , ordovician , polychaete , ichnology , ecology , biology , sedimentary depositional environment , structural basin
A suite of Caradocian trace fossils from the Berwyn Hills, Central Wales, are examined. They include forms produced by trilobites ( Cruziana, Rusophycus, Trichophycus, Monomorphichnus ), pelecypods ( Lockeia ), ?gastropods ( ?Imponoglyphus ) and traces of debatable affinity probably produced by oligochaete and polychaete annelids, amphipods and crustaceans ( Skolithos, Planotites, Teichichnus, Diplocraterion, Arenicolites, ?Gyrochorte, ?Palaeophycus, Vermiforichnus ). Representatives of the Skolithos and Cruziana communities coexist in this assemblage and no subdivision into discrete ichnofacies is therefore possible. The trace fossils are examined in terms of their relationship to the structure and composition of Upper Ordovician communities and it is concluded that substrate and ecological controls were more important limiting environmental parameters than depth.