Samantha
Smith
Burrowing
and trace-making invertebrates are important indicators of
paleo-environment
and depositional systems in ancient rock successions.
The degree and nature of bioturbation also controls the
preservation
potential of primary depositional fabrics. This study
will quantify the nature, density, and geometry of burrows and traces
produced by marine benthic invertebrates in a controlled, easily
observable laboratory environment. This will allow correlation
with benthic organism taxa and their resulting burrows and traces,
which will allow the calibration and conditioning of the behavior and
ecology of modern burrowing and trace-making organisms to the
ichnofossils preserved in the ancient rock record.
Four saltwater aquarium
systems will be established. Initially, two systems will contain
a natural sandy substrate and two will contain a muddy sand
substrate. A marine salinity and brackish water salinity
chemistry will be established for each substrate, using natural Gulf
and bay/lagoon waters. Endemic benthic invertebrate populations
will be introduced into these systems. Water chemistry (pH,
salinity, DO, etc.) and sediment composition will be monitored to
insure that a system is maintained as close to the nature system as
possible. Burrow and trace morphology will be monitored and
photographed, as well as the degree of total bioturbation and changes
in population abundances with time.