Open AccessInsect traces from nonmarine ephemeral puddles
Author(s) -
METZ ROBERT
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
boreas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1502-3885
pISSN - 0300-9483
DOI - 10.1111/j.1502-3885.1987.tb00770.x
Subject(s) - ephemeral key , trace fossil , geology , sedimentary rock , trace (psycholinguistics) , paleontology , ichnology , sedimentary structures , geochemistry , sedimentary depositional environment , ecology , structural basin , biology , linguistics , philosophy
Metz, Robert 1987 06 01: Insect traces from nonmarine ephemeral puddles. Boreas , Vol. 16, pp. 189–195. Oslo. ISSN 0300–9483. Field observations of nonmarine clay‐lined ephemeral puddles have revealed numerous exogenic traces formed by a variety of insects. Most of these traces are described here for the first time. A number of different insects produced similar appearing traces. Relatively rapid drying of the shallow puddles often traps the insect, so that the trace and its maker are initially well preserved. This dessication process, in contrast to many lakes, streams and ponds having deeper water conditions, offers high potential for the exogenic trace to be preserved as a trace fossil. Trace fossil forms similar to those documented for ephemeral puddles include Gordia, Cochlichnus, Lithographus, Helminthopis and Isopodichnus . Ephemeral puddles should be considered a prime candidate for the origin of many of the trace fossils found in ancient nonmarine sedimentary rocks.