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

对覆盖数百甚至数千平方公里的巨型轨道遗址的认识在古环境研究史上是前所未有的。初步迹象表明，它们与不整合密切相关，并可能与海平面波动有关。这项研究将集中在仔细分析美国西部目前已知的三个巨型轨道遗址中的至少两个。对大量不太广泛的足迹遗址的继续分析将揭示它们是否属于巨型足迹遗址复合体，或者是否可以用类似的沉积/古环境控制来解释。所有场址的数据收集将用于扩大综合目录和提供统计上可靠的人口普查数据。由于科罗拉多高原地区的恐龙足迹非常好，如果对它们进行系统分析，将为世界其他地区的恐龙足迹研究提供优秀的模型。

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.