Gilbert-type deltas are inherently associated with stressful conditions for the benthic infauna, ... more Gilbert-type deltas are inherently associated with stressful conditions for the benthic infauna, i.e. highly shifting substrates, coarse-grained sediments, traction sedimentation, supercritical flows, and salinity fluctuations. Nevertheless, trace fossils are locally abundant in the Gilbert-type delta system of Ventimiglia (NW Italy), representing the Pliocene infill of an incised valley that developed during the Messinian sea-level fall. The seismicscale outcrops of the Ventimiglia delta system allow to link ichnological features (ichnotaxa, bioturbation intensity) to the major depositional environments of the deltaic system. Accordingly, rhizoliths characterize the delta plain, whereas delta top deposits are virtually unbioturbated. The delta slope is characterized by Planolites, Thalassinoides, Scolicia-like burrows, and Ophiomorpha. Proximal prodelta deposits show a characteristic Skolithos-Chondrites ichnoassociation, whereas Chondrites and sharp-walled burrows (Thalassinoides?) dominate the distal prodelta. Reworked beach deposits occasionally present bioerosional ichnotaxa (Entobia, Gastrochaenolites, and Maeandropolydora), which suggest the presence of a nearby rocky coast. Overall, bioturbation intensity increases with increasing distance from the delta-top setting, whereas ichnodiversity has its maximum in deltatoe and prodelta units. Moreover, a clear sequence-stratigraphic signature is observed for the Ventimiglia ichnoassociations. The ichnological evolution of the Ventimiglia delta system, with bioturbation intensity increasing in forced-regressive systems tracts of successive sequences, is here hypothesized as a signature of overfilled incised valleys. The Skolithos-Chondrites ichnoassociation is especially common in the highstand systems tract, possibly reflecting higher amounts of suspended matter during the sedimentation of the highstand systems tract itself. The basal surface of forced regression usually preserves passively filled burrows with a sharp unlined margin, which fits well with a sediment-starved seafloor.
The paper presents a group of four, approximately 0.5m large, stone disks from entrances or cemet... more The paper presents a group of four, approximately 0.5m large, stone disks from entrances or cemeteries of two protohistoric hillforts of north-eastern Adriatic. The disks, having a sparse chronology with the exception of one dated to the Middle Bronze Age, show flat and plain surfaces or covered with sub-circular depressions. One disk shows two larger cup-marks at the centre of both faces. They are interpreted as ritual artefacts based on the association with sacred settlement locations and comparisons with similar coeval stones found mainly close to citadel entrances, burials and thresholds in the Aegean area and Anatolia.
This study aims to (1) develop quantitative approaches for the study of ichnological systems; (2)... more This study aims to (1) develop quantitative approaches for the study of ichnological systems; (2) model, for the first time, ichnosites as networks; (3) analyze the response of ichnological systems to global dynamics, with particular regard to Late Paleozoic fluvial-influenced settings. In this regard, the modern peritidal environments of the Grado lagoon (Italy, Adriatic Sea), the Nurra ichnosite (Permian-Triassic; Italy) and the Pramollo ichnolagerst\ue4tte (Carboniferous-Permian; Italy) have been selected for developing, applying and testing network analysis for the study of ichnological systems. Results show that network theory is able to depict the traces-environment relationships both for modern and fossil ichnological systems. It is therefore suggested that network theory may have great potential for understanding Phanerozoic bioturbation patterns
Abstract The distribution of modern ichnoassociations in the Tavira barrier-island system (Ria Fo... more Abstract The distribution of modern ichnoassociations in the Tavira barrier-island system (Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal) is mapped using a GPS-equipped camera. 36 ichnites are identified, including modern analogues of the trace fossils Archaeonassa, Avipeda, Diopatrichnus, Diplocraterion, Entobia, Laterigradus, Lockeia, Lumbricaria, Monocraterion, Oichnus, Polykladichnus, Protovirgularia, Psilonichnus, Rusophycus, Skolithos and Haplotichnus. These traces form 15 ichnoassociations, each of which is linked with a well-constrained depositional setting. Ichnoassociations of the wave-swept fore-barrier foreshore are characterized by low diversity and bioturbation intensity, whereas those of the back-barrier (protected) tidal flats display high diversity and bioturbation intensity. This asymmetrical distribution is primarily explained by hydrodynamics, deriving from the sheltering role of the barrier. Emersion time and substrate cohesiveness also play an important structuring role in the distribution of the Tavira Island ichnoassociations. Ichnoassociation mapping allows to define a predictive model of ichnoassociation distribution, providing an immediately applicable tool for palaeoenvironmental reconstitutions of barrier-island systems.
Paleontological survey in the remote Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in Alaska led to the ... more Paleontological survey in the remote Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in Alaska led to the discovery of lobed Zoophycos from the lower Tahkandit Limestone (informally named Sandstone unit), an interval characterized by grayish-green glauconitic sandstone and conglomerate of coastal origin. The studied Zoophycos consists of a lobate skirt-like spreite bounded by a marginal tube. Smaller tongue-shaped lobes branch off from larger parent lobes that share the same tongue-like shape. Sedimentological features, together with body fossils and associated trace fossils (Planolites, Chondrites), indicate a shoreface habitat for the Zoophycos producer. This shallow-marine environmental setting is in contrast with the deeper bathymetries in which lobed Zoophycos are recovered in post-Palaeozoic times. The producer of the lobed Zoophycos of the Yukon River is interpreted as a deposit-feeder that used sensory-driven, directed search for locating heterogeneously distributed trophic resources. The Zoophycos producer filled its burrow with Coprolus-like fecal pellets, possibly complementing deposit feeding with microbial gardening and/or food caching. Data presented here provide useful insight into the morphological evolution and bathymetric distribution of Zoophycos, suggesting two ‘Golden Ages’ for lobed Zoophycos: (1) Carboniferous–Permian and (2) Cretaceous–Neogene. This stratigraphic distribution supports the important ecological role of major terrestrialization events, that are, the Palaeozoic expansion of land plants and the Mesozoic expansion of angiosperms. The consequent increased input of nutrients to coastal areas was an important contributor to declining trends in porewater oxygen concentrations. This phenomenon favored adaptive traits to exploit nutrient-rich but oxygen-poor niches, among which the U-shaped marginal tube of lobed Zoophycos was an efficient adaptation to bring oxygenated water into low-oxygen substrates.
RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PALEONTOLOGIA E STRATIGRAFIA, 2022
The Italian Northern Apennines are acknowledged as the place where ichnology was born, but there ... more The Italian Northern Apennines are acknowledged as the place where ichnology was born, but there is comparatively little work about their ichnological record. This study bridges this gap by describing two new ichnosites from the locality of Pierfrancesco, which preserve an abundant, low-disparity trace-fossil assemblage within the Late Cretaceous beds of the M. Cassio Flysch. Results show that lithofacies and ichnotaxa are rhythmically organized. The base of each cycle consists of Megagrapton-bearing calciclastic turbidites, which are overlain by marlstone beds with an abundant, low-disparity assemblage of trace fossils. This includes Chondrites intricatus, C. patulus, C. targionii, C. recurvus and Cladichnus fischeri. The cycle top consists of mudstones with no distinct burrows. The rhythmic pattern of Pierfrancesco reflects a deep-sea ecological succession, in which species and behaviour changed as turbidite-related disturbances altered the seafloor. This study opens the question ...
Clastic successions in rock shelters commonly host important archaeological findings, especially ... more Clastic successions in rock shelters commonly host important archaeological findings, especially of prehistoric and protostoric times. The understanding of depositional and post-depositional processes in these environments is crucial to understand the lifestyle settings of humans, as well as the reliability of archaeological data obtained during excavations. Rock shelters are genetically related to caves, but while depositional processes in caves are generally well known, less information is available concerning the depositional processes active in rock shelters.This paper tries to contribute to this issue, describing the sedimentary succession exposed at the Oscurusciuto rock shelter (Ginosa, Southern Italy). This is one of the most important Middle Palaeolithic sites of the Italian peninsula, and its sedimentary infill hosts witnesses of very late Neanderthal populations that lived in Italy just before their total decline and complete replacement by Modern Humans (MH).This work pr...
1. boom festival: not just trance music The Boom Festival is a biennial festival which takes plac... more 1. boom festival: not just trance music The Boom Festival is a biennial festival which takes place in Idanha-a-Nova (Portugal), at the core of the UNESCO Geopark Naturtejo Meseta Meridional. The first Boom Festival happened in 1997 as an electronic music festival, but the present-day Boom is a multidisciplinary event (Silva, 2008). Bringing together the latest inspirations in psychedelic audio and visuals, Boom Festival features music, paint, sculpture, video art, theatre and various kinds of workshops (Fig. 1). Geopark Naturtejo started to develop a series of projects in order to promote geological heritage in the Boom Festival 2008. Among these projects, Andrea Baucon authored a Video Art installation named Geodelia, linking Geology, Art and psychedelic culture.
Data interpretation suggest that the onset of anoxic events are characterized by a relatively abr... more Data interpretation suggest that the onset of anoxic events are characterized by a relatively abrupt transition from sediment-feeding strategies (Thalassinoides ichnofabric) to chemosymbiotic ones (Chondrites).
<p>Seeking signs of past life in the geological record of Mars is one of the four primary g... more <p>Seeking signs of past life in the geological record of Mars is one of the four primary goals of the NASA Mars 2020 mission. However, scant attention has been paid to the fossilized products of life-substrate interactions (ichnofossils), which are one of the most abundant and reliable biosignatures on Earth. This lack of attention is surprising because the ichnofossil heritage does not include only metazoan tracks, but also macroscopic burrows produced by bacteria, microborings ascribed to the activity of bacteria and fungi, and biostratification structures produced by archaea, cyanobacteria and euglenozoans. In light of this gap, the goal of the present study is evaluating the suitability of the Mars 2020 Landing Site for ichnofossils. To this goal, this work applies palaeontological predictive modelling, a technique used to predict the location of fossil sites in uninvestigated areas on Earth. Accordingly, a GIS of the landing site is developed. Each layer of the GIS maps the suitability for one or more ichnofossil types (bioturbation, bioerosion, biostratification structure) based on an assessment of a single attribute (suitability factor) of the Martian environment. Suitability criteria have been selected among the environmental attributes that control ichnofossil abundance, preservation, and accessibility in W Liguria (Italy), Naturtejo UNESCO Geopark (Portugal), and &#212;mn&#244;gov district (Mongolia). The goal of this research will be delivered through a predictive map showing which areas of the Mars 2020 landing site are more likely to preserve ichnofossils. This map can be used to guide future efforts to the regions of the Mars 2020 Landing Site with the highest ichnological potential, realizing benefits in life-search efficiency and cost&#8208;reduction.</p>
The paper explores the relation between organisms and sediments looking for possible indications ... more The paper explores the relation between organisms and sediments looking for possible indications for exploring traces of life far far away
Ichnology is a powerful tool for understanding the evolutionary paths of animal clades, through t... more Ichnology is a powerful tool for understanding the evolutionary paths of animal clades, through the paleobiology of behavior preserved in Lagerstätten such as the Cabeço da Ladeira (Portugal) site. Here, the peritidal carbonates of the Chão das Pias Formation (Middle Jurassic, upper Bajocian) record the development of microbial mats in a tidal flat. Episodically, the flat was expanded during periods of equinoctial spring tides that may have been responsible for the in situ killing of several members of echinoderm clades, and the fine preservation of their endoskeleton, in addition to the behavior of an arthropod-dominated endoand epifauna. Mat-preserved shallow tiers with a moderate ichnodiversity attributed to the Cruziana ichnofacies include trackways of crabs (Laterigradus lusitanica igen. nov., isp. nov.) and shrimps (Diplopodichnus isp.); trails of fishes (?Undichna), gastropods (Archaeonassa fossulata), isocrinid crinoids (Krinodromos bentou igen. nov., isp. nov.) and insects ...
Ichnofossils, the fossilized products of life-substrate interactions, are among the most abundant... more Ichnofossils, the fossilized products of life-substrate interactions, are among the most abundant biosignatures on Earth and therefore they may provide scientific evidence of potential life that may have existed on Mars. Ichnofossils offer unique advantages in the search for extraterrestrial life, including the fact that they are resilient to processes that obliterate other evidence for past life, such as body fossils, as well as chemical and isotopic biosignatures. The goal of this paper is evaluating the suitability of the Mars 2020 Landing Site for ichnofossils. To this goal, we apply palaeontological predictive modelling, a technique used to forecast the location of fossil sites in uninvestigated areas on Earth. Accordingly, a geographic information system (GIS) of the landing site is developed. Each layer of the GIS maps the suitability for one or more ichnofossil types (bioturbation, bioerosion, biostratification structures) based on an assessment of a single attribute (suitab...
The Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site in central Portugal became known as the “Jurassic Beac... more The Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site in central Portugal became known as the “Jurassic Beach”. Formerly an active quarry, the site was protected in order to preserve the large exposures of a Middle Jurassic (early? Bajocian) carbonate tidal flat with an outstanding fossil record. This multidisciplinary paleontological work involving experts from several national and international research and geoconservation institutions was carried out under the umbrella of the Institute for Nature Conservation (ICNF), since this geosite is located within the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros nature park. Cabeço da Ladeira has provided exquisitely preserved body fossils, especially echinoderms, together with the exceptional preservation of their, and other, animal’s behaviors. It is also a hotspot to understand the diversity of bivalves in the Middle Jurassic. Due to the large area of the geosite, the international relevance of the findings, and the risk of weathering and destruction of the fossils...
Species of burrowing animals have changed substantially over evolutionary time scales, but, surpr... more Species of burrowing animals have changed substantially over evolutionary time scales, but, surprisingly, burrows display persisting morphological patterns throughout the Phanerozoic. Deep-sea burrows are geometrically patterned, whereas shallow-marine burrows display simpler morphologies. This divergence between burrow associations is one of the central conundrums of paleontology, but it has never been quantitatively demonstrated, and the organizing principles responsible for this structure remain unknown. We show that the divergence of burrow associations has been shaped by small-world dynamics, which is proposed as a major macroevolutionary force in marine environments. Using network analysis, our study reveals that the association patterns between burrow morphotypes in 45 paleontological sites span ∼500 m.y. Strong statistical support is demonstrated for a surprising association pattern, according to which the data set is optimally partitioned into two subgroups of tightly assoc...
A trace fossil assemblage from the Silurian (Llandovery) black shales of the Genna Muxerru Format... more A trace fossil assemblage from the Silurian (Llandovery) black shales of the Genna Muxerru Formation is reported for the first time. The ichnofossil record is abundant, well-preserved and comprises Alcyonidiopsis, Cochlichnus, Phymatoderma, Planolites (large morphotype), Planolites (rough morphotype) and a 'Small chondritid'. Sedimentological and ichnological evidence indicates that the bioturbated black shales were deposited in outer shelf (or deeper) settings with severe depletion in oxygen. The seafloor provided a high food supply for the infauna. The palaeoenvironment of the Genna Muxerru Formation is an ancient analogue of modern oxygenminimum zones. Burrow fills are apparently massive in macroscopic view, whereas observations under the petrographic and stereoscopic microscope show that a lifestyle dominated, i.e. that of pellet-filling sedimentfeeders. As such, the Genna Muxerru Formation provides not only a new ethologic reference for low-oxygen settings but also a methodological benchmark for ichnological analysis of black shales. Bioturbation in black shales may be commoner than expected but its recognition requires microscopic observation.
The geoheritage value of sedimentary building stones has mainly focused on physical sedimentary s... more The geoheritage value of sedimentary building stones has mainly focused on physical sedimentary structures and body fossils. By contrast, little attention has been placed on the geoheritage significance of ichnofabrics, which are the sedimentary fabrics that have been reworked by organisms. This study aims to fill this gap by analysing the ichnofabric found on the buildings of Piazza della Vittoria, in Genova (Italy). Here, unusually visible and well-preserved specimens of the fossil burrow Bichordites are observed on the historical buildings designed by Marcello Piacentini, one of the local most prominent architects of the 1930s. The Bichordites of Piazza della Vittoria are winding meniscate burrows with a central string-like structure. Here, we interpret this ichnofabric as the result of the activity of a community of echinoids bioturbating a sand wave system. We have also located the historical quarry that provided material for the studied buildings with the same ichnofossils exposed. Surprisingly, the cuts on display on the buildings are much nicer than those in the outcrops and more taxon specific characteristics can be observed just on the tiles rather than in the field. For all these reasons, the geoheritage value of the Piazza della Vittoria ichnofabric relies in its unique scientific significance, the cultural value, and its potential future applications in research, teaching, urban geotourism and reference site.
Gilbert-type deltas are inherently associated with stressful conditions for the benthic infauna, ... more Gilbert-type deltas are inherently associated with stressful conditions for the benthic infauna, i.e. highly shifting substrates, coarse-grained sediments, traction sedimentation, supercritical flows, and salinity fluctuations. Nevertheless, trace fossils are locally abundant in the Gilbert-type delta system of Ventimiglia (NW Italy), representing the Pliocene infill of an incised valley that developed during the Messinian sea-level fall. The seismicscale outcrops of the Ventimiglia delta system allow to link ichnological features (ichnotaxa, bioturbation intensity) to the major depositional environments of the deltaic system. Accordingly, rhizoliths characterize the delta plain, whereas delta top deposits are virtually unbioturbated. The delta slope is characterized by Planolites, Thalassinoides, Scolicia-like burrows, and Ophiomorpha. Proximal prodelta deposits show a characteristic Skolithos-Chondrites ichnoassociation, whereas Chondrites and sharp-walled burrows (Thalassinoides?) dominate the distal prodelta. Reworked beach deposits occasionally present bioerosional ichnotaxa (Entobia, Gastrochaenolites, and Maeandropolydora), which suggest the presence of a nearby rocky coast. Overall, bioturbation intensity increases with increasing distance from the delta-top setting, whereas ichnodiversity has its maximum in deltatoe and prodelta units. Moreover, a clear sequence-stratigraphic signature is observed for the Ventimiglia ichnoassociations. The ichnological evolution of the Ventimiglia delta system, with bioturbation intensity increasing in forced-regressive systems tracts of successive sequences, is here hypothesized as a signature of overfilled incised valleys. The Skolithos-Chondrites ichnoassociation is especially common in the highstand systems tract, possibly reflecting higher amounts of suspended matter during the sedimentation of the highstand systems tract itself. The basal surface of forced regression usually preserves passively filled burrows with a sharp unlined margin, which fits well with a sediment-starved seafloor.
The paper presents a group of four, approximately 0.5m large, stone disks from entrances or cemet... more The paper presents a group of four, approximately 0.5m large, stone disks from entrances or cemeteries of two protohistoric hillforts of north-eastern Adriatic. The disks, having a sparse chronology with the exception of one dated to the Middle Bronze Age, show flat and plain surfaces or covered with sub-circular depressions. One disk shows two larger cup-marks at the centre of both faces. They are interpreted as ritual artefacts based on the association with sacred settlement locations and comparisons with similar coeval stones found mainly close to citadel entrances, burials and thresholds in the Aegean area and Anatolia.
This study aims to (1) develop quantitative approaches for the study of ichnological systems; (2)... more This study aims to (1) develop quantitative approaches for the study of ichnological systems; (2) model, for the first time, ichnosites as networks; (3) analyze the response of ichnological systems to global dynamics, with particular regard to Late Paleozoic fluvial-influenced settings. In this regard, the modern peritidal environments of the Grado lagoon (Italy, Adriatic Sea), the Nurra ichnosite (Permian-Triassic; Italy) and the Pramollo ichnolagerst\ue4tte (Carboniferous-Permian; Italy) have been selected for developing, applying and testing network analysis for the study of ichnological systems. Results show that network theory is able to depict the traces-environment relationships both for modern and fossil ichnological systems. It is therefore suggested that network theory may have great potential for understanding Phanerozoic bioturbation patterns
Abstract The distribution of modern ichnoassociations in the Tavira barrier-island system (Ria Fo... more Abstract The distribution of modern ichnoassociations in the Tavira barrier-island system (Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal) is mapped using a GPS-equipped camera. 36 ichnites are identified, including modern analogues of the trace fossils Archaeonassa, Avipeda, Diopatrichnus, Diplocraterion, Entobia, Laterigradus, Lockeia, Lumbricaria, Monocraterion, Oichnus, Polykladichnus, Protovirgularia, Psilonichnus, Rusophycus, Skolithos and Haplotichnus. These traces form 15 ichnoassociations, each of which is linked with a well-constrained depositional setting. Ichnoassociations of the wave-swept fore-barrier foreshore are characterized by low diversity and bioturbation intensity, whereas those of the back-barrier (protected) tidal flats display high diversity and bioturbation intensity. This asymmetrical distribution is primarily explained by hydrodynamics, deriving from the sheltering role of the barrier. Emersion time and substrate cohesiveness also play an important structuring role in the distribution of the Tavira Island ichnoassociations. Ichnoassociation mapping allows to define a predictive model of ichnoassociation distribution, providing an immediately applicable tool for palaeoenvironmental reconstitutions of barrier-island systems.
Paleontological survey in the remote Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in Alaska led to the ... more Paleontological survey in the remote Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in Alaska led to the discovery of lobed Zoophycos from the lower Tahkandit Limestone (informally named Sandstone unit), an interval characterized by grayish-green glauconitic sandstone and conglomerate of coastal origin. The studied Zoophycos consists of a lobate skirt-like spreite bounded by a marginal tube. Smaller tongue-shaped lobes branch off from larger parent lobes that share the same tongue-like shape. Sedimentological features, together with body fossils and associated trace fossils (Planolites, Chondrites), indicate a shoreface habitat for the Zoophycos producer. This shallow-marine environmental setting is in contrast with the deeper bathymetries in which lobed Zoophycos are recovered in post-Palaeozoic times. The producer of the lobed Zoophycos of the Yukon River is interpreted as a deposit-feeder that used sensory-driven, directed search for locating heterogeneously distributed trophic resources. The Zoophycos producer filled its burrow with Coprolus-like fecal pellets, possibly complementing deposit feeding with microbial gardening and/or food caching. Data presented here provide useful insight into the morphological evolution and bathymetric distribution of Zoophycos, suggesting two ‘Golden Ages’ for lobed Zoophycos: (1) Carboniferous–Permian and (2) Cretaceous–Neogene. This stratigraphic distribution supports the important ecological role of major terrestrialization events, that are, the Palaeozoic expansion of land plants and the Mesozoic expansion of angiosperms. The consequent increased input of nutrients to coastal areas was an important contributor to declining trends in porewater oxygen concentrations. This phenomenon favored adaptive traits to exploit nutrient-rich but oxygen-poor niches, among which the U-shaped marginal tube of lobed Zoophycos was an efficient adaptation to bring oxygenated water into low-oxygen substrates.
RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PALEONTOLOGIA E STRATIGRAFIA, 2022
The Italian Northern Apennines are acknowledged as the place where ichnology was born, but there ... more The Italian Northern Apennines are acknowledged as the place where ichnology was born, but there is comparatively little work about their ichnological record. This study bridges this gap by describing two new ichnosites from the locality of Pierfrancesco, which preserve an abundant, low-disparity trace-fossil assemblage within the Late Cretaceous beds of the M. Cassio Flysch. Results show that lithofacies and ichnotaxa are rhythmically organized. The base of each cycle consists of Megagrapton-bearing calciclastic turbidites, which are overlain by marlstone beds with an abundant, low-disparity assemblage of trace fossils. This includes Chondrites intricatus, C. patulus, C. targionii, C. recurvus and Cladichnus fischeri. The cycle top consists of mudstones with no distinct burrows. The rhythmic pattern of Pierfrancesco reflects a deep-sea ecological succession, in which species and behaviour changed as turbidite-related disturbances altered the seafloor. This study opens the question ...
Clastic successions in rock shelters commonly host important archaeological findings, especially ... more Clastic successions in rock shelters commonly host important archaeological findings, especially of prehistoric and protostoric times. The understanding of depositional and post-depositional processes in these environments is crucial to understand the lifestyle settings of humans, as well as the reliability of archaeological data obtained during excavations. Rock shelters are genetically related to caves, but while depositional processes in caves are generally well known, less information is available concerning the depositional processes active in rock shelters.This paper tries to contribute to this issue, describing the sedimentary succession exposed at the Oscurusciuto rock shelter (Ginosa, Southern Italy). This is one of the most important Middle Palaeolithic sites of the Italian peninsula, and its sedimentary infill hosts witnesses of very late Neanderthal populations that lived in Italy just before their total decline and complete replacement by Modern Humans (MH).This work pr...
1. boom festival: not just trance music The Boom Festival is a biennial festival which takes plac... more 1. boom festival: not just trance music The Boom Festival is a biennial festival which takes place in Idanha-a-Nova (Portugal), at the core of the UNESCO Geopark Naturtejo Meseta Meridional. The first Boom Festival happened in 1997 as an electronic music festival, but the present-day Boom is a multidisciplinary event (Silva, 2008). Bringing together the latest inspirations in psychedelic audio and visuals, Boom Festival features music, paint, sculpture, video art, theatre and various kinds of workshops (Fig. 1). Geopark Naturtejo started to develop a series of projects in order to promote geological heritage in the Boom Festival 2008. Among these projects, Andrea Baucon authored a Video Art installation named Geodelia, linking Geology, Art and psychedelic culture.
Data interpretation suggest that the onset of anoxic events are characterized by a relatively abr... more Data interpretation suggest that the onset of anoxic events are characterized by a relatively abrupt transition from sediment-feeding strategies (Thalassinoides ichnofabric) to chemosymbiotic ones (Chondrites).
<p>Seeking signs of past life in the geological record of Mars is one of the four primary g... more <p>Seeking signs of past life in the geological record of Mars is one of the four primary goals of the NASA Mars 2020 mission. However, scant attention has been paid to the fossilized products of life-substrate interactions (ichnofossils), which are one of the most abundant and reliable biosignatures on Earth. This lack of attention is surprising because the ichnofossil heritage does not include only metazoan tracks, but also macroscopic burrows produced by bacteria, microborings ascribed to the activity of bacteria and fungi, and biostratification structures produced by archaea, cyanobacteria and euglenozoans. In light of this gap, the goal of the present study is evaluating the suitability of the Mars 2020 Landing Site for ichnofossils. To this goal, this work applies palaeontological predictive modelling, a technique used to predict the location of fossil sites in uninvestigated areas on Earth. Accordingly, a GIS of the landing site is developed. Each layer of the GIS maps the suitability for one or more ichnofossil types (bioturbation, bioerosion, biostratification structure) based on an assessment of a single attribute (suitability factor) of the Martian environment. Suitability criteria have been selected among the environmental attributes that control ichnofossil abundance, preservation, and accessibility in W Liguria (Italy), Naturtejo UNESCO Geopark (Portugal), and &#212;mn&#244;gov district (Mongolia). The goal of this research will be delivered through a predictive map showing which areas of the Mars 2020 landing site are more likely to preserve ichnofossils. This map can be used to guide future efforts to the regions of the Mars 2020 Landing Site with the highest ichnological potential, realizing benefits in life-search efficiency and cost&#8208;reduction.</p>
The paper explores the relation between organisms and sediments looking for possible indications ... more The paper explores the relation between organisms and sediments looking for possible indications for exploring traces of life far far away
Ichnology is a powerful tool for understanding the evolutionary paths of animal clades, through t... more Ichnology is a powerful tool for understanding the evolutionary paths of animal clades, through the paleobiology of behavior preserved in Lagerstätten such as the Cabeço da Ladeira (Portugal) site. Here, the peritidal carbonates of the Chão das Pias Formation (Middle Jurassic, upper Bajocian) record the development of microbial mats in a tidal flat. Episodically, the flat was expanded during periods of equinoctial spring tides that may have been responsible for the in situ killing of several members of echinoderm clades, and the fine preservation of their endoskeleton, in addition to the behavior of an arthropod-dominated endoand epifauna. Mat-preserved shallow tiers with a moderate ichnodiversity attributed to the Cruziana ichnofacies include trackways of crabs (Laterigradus lusitanica igen. nov., isp. nov.) and shrimps (Diplopodichnus isp.); trails of fishes (?Undichna), gastropods (Archaeonassa fossulata), isocrinid crinoids (Krinodromos bentou igen. nov., isp. nov.) and insects ...
Ichnofossils, the fossilized products of life-substrate interactions, are among the most abundant... more Ichnofossils, the fossilized products of life-substrate interactions, are among the most abundant biosignatures on Earth and therefore they may provide scientific evidence of potential life that may have existed on Mars. Ichnofossils offer unique advantages in the search for extraterrestrial life, including the fact that they are resilient to processes that obliterate other evidence for past life, such as body fossils, as well as chemical and isotopic biosignatures. The goal of this paper is evaluating the suitability of the Mars 2020 Landing Site for ichnofossils. To this goal, we apply palaeontological predictive modelling, a technique used to forecast the location of fossil sites in uninvestigated areas on Earth. Accordingly, a geographic information system (GIS) of the landing site is developed. Each layer of the GIS maps the suitability for one or more ichnofossil types (bioturbation, bioerosion, biostratification structures) based on an assessment of a single attribute (suitab...
The Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site in central Portugal became known as the “Jurassic Beac... more The Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site in central Portugal became known as the “Jurassic Beach”. Formerly an active quarry, the site was protected in order to preserve the large exposures of a Middle Jurassic (early? Bajocian) carbonate tidal flat with an outstanding fossil record. This multidisciplinary paleontological work involving experts from several national and international research and geoconservation institutions was carried out under the umbrella of the Institute for Nature Conservation (ICNF), since this geosite is located within the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros nature park. Cabeço da Ladeira has provided exquisitely preserved body fossils, especially echinoderms, together with the exceptional preservation of their, and other, animal’s behaviors. It is also a hotspot to understand the diversity of bivalves in the Middle Jurassic. Due to the large area of the geosite, the international relevance of the findings, and the risk of weathering and destruction of the fossils...
Species of burrowing animals have changed substantially over evolutionary time scales, but, surpr... more Species of burrowing animals have changed substantially over evolutionary time scales, but, surprisingly, burrows display persisting morphological patterns throughout the Phanerozoic. Deep-sea burrows are geometrically patterned, whereas shallow-marine burrows display simpler morphologies. This divergence between burrow associations is one of the central conundrums of paleontology, but it has never been quantitatively demonstrated, and the organizing principles responsible for this structure remain unknown. We show that the divergence of burrow associations has been shaped by small-world dynamics, which is proposed as a major macroevolutionary force in marine environments. Using network analysis, our study reveals that the association patterns between burrow morphotypes in 45 paleontological sites span ∼500 m.y. Strong statistical support is demonstrated for a surprising association pattern, according to which the data set is optimally partitioned into two subgroups of tightly assoc...
A trace fossil assemblage from the Silurian (Llandovery) black shales of the Genna Muxerru Format... more A trace fossil assemblage from the Silurian (Llandovery) black shales of the Genna Muxerru Formation is reported for the first time. The ichnofossil record is abundant, well-preserved and comprises Alcyonidiopsis, Cochlichnus, Phymatoderma, Planolites (large morphotype), Planolites (rough morphotype) and a 'Small chondritid'. Sedimentological and ichnological evidence indicates that the bioturbated black shales were deposited in outer shelf (or deeper) settings with severe depletion in oxygen. The seafloor provided a high food supply for the infauna. The palaeoenvironment of the Genna Muxerru Formation is an ancient analogue of modern oxygenminimum zones. Burrow fills are apparently massive in macroscopic view, whereas observations under the petrographic and stereoscopic microscope show that a lifestyle dominated, i.e. that of pellet-filling sedimentfeeders. As such, the Genna Muxerru Formation provides not only a new ethologic reference for low-oxygen settings but also a methodological benchmark for ichnological analysis of black shales. Bioturbation in black shales may be commoner than expected but its recognition requires microscopic observation.
The geoheritage value of sedimentary building stones has mainly focused on physical sedimentary s... more The geoheritage value of sedimentary building stones has mainly focused on physical sedimentary structures and body fossils. By contrast, little attention has been placed on the geoheritage significance of ichnofabrics, which are the sedimentary fabrics that have been reworked by organisms. This study aims to fill this gap by analysing the ichnofabric found on the buildings of Piazza della Vittoria, in Genova (Italy). Here, unusually visible and well-preserved specimens of the fossil burrow Bichordites are observed on the historical buildings designed by Marcello Piacentini, one of the local most prominent architects of the 1930s. The Bichordites of Piazza della Vittoria are winding meniscate burrows with a central string-like structure. Here, we interpret this ichnofabric as the result of the activity of a community of echinoids bioturbating a sand wave system. We have also located the historical quarry that provided material for the studied buildings with the same ichnofossils exposed. Surprisingly, the cuts on display on the buildings are much nicer than those in the outcrops and more taxon specific characteristics can be observed just on the tiles rather than in the field. For all these reasons, the geoheritage value of the Piazza della Vittoria ichnofabric relies in its unique scientific significance, the cultural value, and its potential future applications in research, teaching, urban geotourism and reference site.
Spiral burrows are a common architecture for different organisms, such as mammals, arthropods (te... more Spiral burrows are a common architecture for different organisms, such as mammals, arthropods (terrestrial and marine) and annelids . Despite the wide diffusion of this burrowing morphology, spiral burrows have various functions, not necessarily mutually exclusive:
Since its beginning vertebrate ichnology has based the sharing of data and morphologies on outlin... more Since its beginning vertebrate ichnology has based the sharing of data and morphologies on outline drawings and qualitative descriptions of tracks. Though this methods are fundamental for the definition and the understanding of vertebrate tracks, they introduce a high level of subjectivity, due both to the drawing ability and to the sharing methods (eg copies from old journals), which do not allow a precise quantitative approach to ichnology, as, eg, shape analysis.
ABSTRACT An ichnofabric includes all structure and textural changes of the sediment resulting fro... more ABSTRACT An ichnofabric includes all structure and textural changes of the sediment resulting from bioturbation (and bioerosion) at all scales. Abundance and distribution of burrows reflects the non-linear sorting effects of physical and biological parameters, resulting in a disturbance regime which generates patchiness. To analyze the patch dynamics of trace fossils as a result of environmental disturbance, this study quantifies bioturbation rates and spatial and temporal variation based on fractal geometry. Multifractal spectrum is used as a measure of spatial ichnofabric heterogeneities. The magnitude of the Daedalus ichnofabric fluctuations for the two stratigraphic sequences sampled shows that sandflat substrate colonization by the Daedalus halli worm producer after each storm event was opportunistic, mostly multigenerational, with an exclusive and significant occupation of emptied ecospace, for the purpose of meiofauna harvesting in clean sands.
Spiral burrows are a common architecture for different organisms, such as mammals, arthropods (te... more Spiral burrows are a common architecture for different organisms, such as mammals, arthropods (terrestrial and marine) and annelids . Despite the wide diffusion of this burrowing morphology, spiral burrows have various functions, not necessarily mutually exclusive:
Scanning ichnological specimens is becoming more and more common, although only few papers have b... more Scanning ichnological specimens is becoming more and more common, although only few papers have been concerned with recording invertebrate traces, using only laser scanning technologies. We used this as a starting point for a comparison between 3D data acquisition methodologies for traces: laserscanning and photogrammetry. Our comparisons are made on specimens collected from the Carboniferous rocks of the Pramollo area. These specimens were chosen because of their wide range of morphologies, and for the high quality and completeness of preservation, but above all they were chosen for the substrate, which varies from fine black siltstone to brown mica rich sandstone. The specimens were firstly scanned with a Nextengine 3D Scanner HD using the standard Scanstudio HD v.1.3.0 software. The specimens were not “whitened” in order to highlight the sensivity of the tool to the mica refraction. Then the specimens were photographed, always without flash, with a Canon G9 (12.1 Mpixel sensor) in fully automated mode and Macro autofocus and with a Samsung Galaxy SII (I9100) mobile phone (8 Mpixel sensor) also in fully auto mode and Macro focus. As the two cameras have different resolutions and lenses a different number of picture was taken for each sample. Agisoft Photoscan Pro (v.0.8.5, build 1423) was used to generate photogrammetric 3D models from the pictures, aligned with the functions Accuracy “high” and Pair Preselection “Disabled”, and generated as “Arbitrary” Objects type, “High” Target quality, “Sharp” Geometry type, and the maximum (“0”) Face count. The resulting models were then scaled using the “Set Reference Distance” command. Laserscanner and photogrammetric models were and imported to Innovmetric Polyworks IMInspect (v10.0) to be aligned first (using ImAlign) and then compared (using ImInspect). NextEngine models showed that when micas are very abundant a marked roughness of the surface due to the reflection of the beam by the minerals, ranging from step distance (0.15mm) up to 0.5. These peaks are not present in photogrammetric models, which, on the other hand, present some smoothed surface in proximity of neat steps, as well as a poor detail and high noise in the external part of the model (those with less picture overlapping). The comparison of the models revealed that, also for this field of application, the two methods are equivalent, generating meshes with measurable differences in the order of the resolution of the model (generally 0.15 mm); this is also valid for the models generated with the camera of the mobile phone which, though with a lower resolution and some higher noise than the Canon camera ones, can be considered reliable for ichnological analyses. The higher noise at the boundary and the smoothing effects of the photogrammetric models can be eliminated by taking more pictures of the subject and calibrating the camera (if possible), whereas the roughness given by the laserscanner can be highly reduced “powdering” the sample with talc (or similar) to reduce the reflection.
600 million years,
21 paintings,
9 meters long and 4 meters tall.
These are the record numbers... more 600 million years, 21 paintings, 9 meters long and 4 meters tall. These are the record numbers of Andrea Baucon’s Paleobiologica, a series of large-sized artworks celebrating the evocative power of Paleontology. It is not a case that Paleobiologica accompanied Dinoexpo, world’s largest traveling exhibition about dinosaurs, hosted by the UNESCO Geopark Naturtejo (Portugal). This symbiotic relationship between science and esthetics makes Paleobiologica more than simply an art exhibit. Intended as a visual narration of biological evolution, Paleobiologica traverses deep time through the diversity of life. Each painting corresponds either to a fossil site or a moment in geological time; past ecosystems have been reconstituted through a meticulous scientific approach. This book features full-color illustrations of works in Paleobiologica, along with texts that explore the scientific research behind the exhibition. A short foreword by Andrea Baucon explains the history and ideas behind this event. This is followed by a lavish full-colour portfolio of the paleontologic visions, ranging from Ediacaran underwater scenarios to a 36-metre-square Mesozoic landscape and a snow-covered panorama with mammoth.
Since the days of Leonardo da Vinci, art has been a passionate way to express geology.
Geology i... more Since the days of Leonardo da Vinci, art has been a passionate way to express geology. Geology in Art is the first book to document the artistic phenomena in which geology brings its own aesthetic and conceptual heritage. From painting to music, literature to sculpture, comics to photography, Geology in Art leads you on a journey through Geologic Art in a delightful and informative way. Accompanied by beautiful reproductions, the book crosses centuries and genres, from Leonardo to Conan Doyle. The contemporary art world is analyzed through interviews, in the belief that artists’ opinions and statements are valid source materials for the study of Geologic Art. With its large format and more than 100 illustrations of art works, this is both a coff ee-table book and an educational experience that informs, inspires and entertains art and geology enthusiasts alike.
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reflection of the beam by the minerals, ranging from step distance (0.15mm) up to 0.5. These peaks are not present in photogrammetric models, which, on the other hand, present some smoothed surface in proximity of neat steps, as well as a poor detail and high noise in the external part of the model (those with less picture overlapping). The comparison of the models revealed that, also for this field of application, the two methods are equivalent, generating meshes with measurable differences in the order of the resolution of the model (generally 0.15 mm); this is also valid for the models generated with the camera of the mobile phone which, though with a lower resolution and some higher noise than the Canon camera ones, can be considered reliable for ichnological analyses. The higher noise at the boundary and the smoothing effects of the photogrammetric models can be eliminated by taking more pictures of the subject and calibrating the camera (if possible), whereas the roughness given by the laserscanner can be highly reduced “powdering” the sample with talc (or similar) to reduce the reflection.
21 paintings,
9 meters long and 4 meters tall.
These are the record numbers of Andrea Baucon’s Paleobiologica, a series of large-sized artworks celebrating the evocative power of Paleontology. It is not a case that Paleobiologica accompanied Dinoexpo, world’s largest traveling exhibition about dinosaurs, hosted by the UNESCO Geopark Naturtejo (Portugal).
This symbiotic relationship between science and esthetics makes Paleobiologica more than simply an art exhibit. Intended as a visual narration of biological evolution, Paleobiologica traverses deep time through the diversity of life. Each painting corresponds either to a fossil site or a moment in geological time; past ecosystems have been reconstituted through a meticulous scientific approach. This book features full-color illustrations of works in Paleobiologica, along with texts that explore the scientific research behind the exhibition. A short foreword by Andrea Baucon explains the history and ideas behind this event. This is followed by a lavish full-colour portfolio of the paleontologic visions, ranging from Ediacaran underwater scenarios to a 36-metre-square Mesozoic landscape and a snow-covered panorama with mammoth.
Geology in Art is the first book to document the artistic phenomena in which geology brings its own aesthetic and conceptual heritage. From painting to music, literature to sculpture, comics to photography, Geology in Art leads you on a journey through Geologic Art in a delightful and informative way.
Accompanied by beautiful reproductions, the book crosses centuries and genres, from Leonardo to Conan Doyle.
The contemporary art world is analyzed through interviews, in the belief that artists’ opinions and statements are valid source materials for the study of Geologic Art.
With its large format and more than 100 illustrations of art works, this is both a coff ee-table book and an educational experience that informs, inspires and entertains art and geology enthusiasts alike.