Premium
Burrows and trails produced by Quinqueloculina impressa Reuss, a benthic foraminifer, in fine‐grained sediment
Author(s) -
SEVERIN KENNETH P.,
CULVER STEPHEN J.,
BLANPIED CHRISTIAN
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
sedimentology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.494
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1365-3091
pISSN - 0037-0746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3091.1982.tb00093.x
Subject(s) - bioturbation , burrow , trace fossil , benthic zone , geology , sediment , sedimentation , sedimentary structures , paleontology , sedimentary rock , geomorphology , oceanography , sedimentary depositional environment , structural basin
The benthic foraminifer Quinqueloculina impressa Reuss, was buried in various types of sediment in order to assess its capability for producing sediment disturbances and thus, ichnofossils. Silts and silty‐clays showed distinct burrows; fine sands did not. Two types of burrows were produced: fairly straight, vertical burrows from 4 cm below the water‐sediment interface to within 1 cm of the sediment surface, and a horizontal and vertical maze‐like burrow system in the top centimetre of the sediment. Individuals moving on the sediment surface also produced visible trails. When the sediments were dried the burrows were always destroyed; in some cases the surface trails were preserved. We propose that the vertical burrows are escape structures and that the horizontal and vertical maze‐like structures are living burrows. Ichnofossils similar to the escape structures and surface structures have been described. Presence of these ichnofossils indicates a low energy sedimentary environment and a lack of macrofaunal bioturbation. The presence of escape structures may indicate a pulsatory pattern of sedimentation.