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Geological Significance of Aquatic Nonmarine Trace Fossils

  • Chapter
Animal-Sediment Relations

Part of the book series: Topics in Geobiology ((TGBI,volume 100))

Abstract

In Chapters 3 and 4 it was shown that benthic invertebrates interact with modern fluvial and lacustrine sediments and, through these interactions, alter the physical, chemical, and biological properties of sediments. In this chapter, the literature documenting invertebrate-sediment interactions in ancient fluvial, lacustrine, and associated terrestrial environments is reviewed in order to show that invertebrate activities influenced benthic processes and properties in these environments in the past. The literature concerning invertebrate traces of nonmarine origin is scant and scattered and has not been the subject of recent review. Curran (1980) recently emphasized the need for a review of this kind. We will attempt to show that aquatic nonmarine trace fossils are abundant and widely distributed (Table I) and are useful for a variety of geological purposes. Further research on these traces will probably improve the resolution of paleoecological and paleoenvironmental reconstructions involving non-marine rocks and increase the understanding of the origin and history of freshwater life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44115, USA

    Michael J. S. Tevesz

  2. Department of Geological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA

    Peter L. McCall

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  1. Michael J. S. Tevesz
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  2. Peter L. McCall
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA

    Peter L. McCall

  2. Department of Geological Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44115, USA

    Michael J. S. Tevesz

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Tevesz, M.J.S., McCall, P.L. (1982). Geological Significance of Aquatic Nonmarine Trace Fossils. In: McCall, P.L., Tevesz, M.J.S. (eds) Animal-Sediment Relations. Topics in Geobiology, vol 100. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-1317-6_6

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