Expanding the potential of trace fossil analysis for practical applications

遗迹学是研究动物的化石足迹和洞穴(又称“痕迹化石”)的学科。遗迹学已成为沉积岩描述的重要组成部分，因为它在很大程度上有助于确定沉积岩的沉积环境。考古学从业者在很大程度上依赖于化石记录的解释，因此对现代洞穴(又称“痕迹”)的描述使这门科学受益匪浅。概述了一项参与两个相互关联的研究计划的建议：(1)调查洞穴行为，以及对不同的沉积和地球化学过程的行为反应；(2)表征与现代海洋无脊椎动物的洞穴活动有关的地球化学，并将这种地球化学与岩石记录中的痕迹化石产状联系起来。这项研究将建立在几年成功研究的基础上，具体目标是改进岩石记录中遗迹化石产状的解释(沉积史和埋藏史)，并将研究成果应用于基本问题，如解释沉积沉积，协助识别和圈定储集层质量岩石，以及表征储集岩中的生物成因组构。研究的具体成果将包括一个新的框架，用于确定和分类动物对沉积变量的反应，以便非生物专家能够从岩石记录中得出详细的解释(对行业从业人员尤其重要)，以及将现代洞穴地球化学与遗迹化石联系起来的系统方法，以便能够从岩石记录中查明沉积环境(和随后的成岩作用)的化学方面。该计划旨在让研究生和本科生参与研究的每个阶段，以优化知识传播量，并培养出几名高素质的人才。

Ichnology is the study of the fossilized tracks and burrows (aka "trace fossils") of animals. Ichnology has become an important part of sedimentary rock description as it greatly helps in determining the environment of deposition of sedimentary rocks. Ichnological practitioners rely heavily on interpretations from the fossil record, so the science benefits greatly from characterization of modern burrows (aka "traces"). Outlined is a proposal to engage in a two fold, interrelated research program that will: (1) investigate the burrowing behaviors, and behavioral responses to variable sedimentary and geochemical processes; and, (2) characterize the geochemistry associated with the burrowing activities of modern marine invertebrates and associate that geochemistry with trace fossil occurrences in the rock record. The research will build on several years of successful research and has the specific aims of improving interpretations (depositional history and burial history) of trace-fossil occurrences in the rock record, and applying the findings to fundamental issues such as interpreting sedimentary deposits, assisting in the identification and delineation of reservoir quality rocks and characterizing biogenic fabrics in reservoir rocks. Specific outcomes of the research will include a new framework for identifying and classifying animal response to depositional variables so that non-ichnologists can draw detailed interpretations from the rock record (particularly important for industry practitioners) and a systematic approach to linking modern burrow geochemistry to ichnofossils so that chemical aspects of the sedimentary environment (and subsequent diagenetic processes) can be identified from the rock record. The program is designed to engage graduate and undergraduate students in every phase of the research to optimize the amount of knowledge dissemination and to produce several highly qualified personnel.