Dinosaur Tracksites and Megatracksites of the Colorado Plateau Region: Implications for Paleoenvironmental and Paleobiological Analysis

在古环境研究史上，对覆盖数百甚至数千平方公里的巨型遗址的识别是前所未有的。初步迹象表明，它们与不整合面密切相关，并可能与海平面波动有关。这项研究将集中于对美国西部目前已知的三个巨型黑客遗址中的至少两个进行仔细分析。对大量面积较小的轨道遗址的持续分析将揭示是否有属于巨型岩屑杂岩的地点，或者可以用类似的沉积/古环境控制来解释。所有地点的数据采集将用于扩大一个全面的目录，并提供统计上可靠的普查数据。由于科罗拉多高原地区的轨道非常好，如果系统分析，它们将成为世界其他地区研究恐龙轨道的优秀模型。

The recognition of Megatracksites covering hundreds or even thousands of square kilometers is unprecedented in the history of paleoenvironmental research. Preliminary indications suggest that they are intimately related to unconformities and can be tied to sea-level fluctuations. This research will focus on careful analysis of at least two of the three megatracksites currently known in the western USA. Continued analysis of a large number of less extensive tracksites will reveal if any belong to megatracksite complexes or can be explained in terms of similar depositional/paleoenvironmental controls. Data acquisition at all sites will be used to expand a comprehensive catalog and furnish statistically sound census data. Because trackways are so good in the Colorado Plateau region, they will, if systematically analysed, serve as excellent models for dinosaur trackways research in other regions worldwide.