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The Silurian Sharawra Member (middle to late Llandoverian) in Saudi Arabia exhibits unique surface traces with exceptional preservation: Seven small, wing-shaped traces occur on a sandstone slab showing well-defined hummocky cross-stratification having a few decimeters wavelength being covered by a thin mud layer. These traces are preserved as concave epirelief along with elongated internal striae and surrounded by slightly elevated levees. Preservation of these delicate, 10–20 mm long and ∼10 mm wide traces suggests that they were formed after a storm event when mud had already settled to the sediment surface. The lack of wave-generated sedimentary structures implies deposition between fair-weather and storm-wave base probably preventing further rapid reworking by waves. Based on their geometry, internal pattern, and spatial distribution, these wing-shaped traces are interpreted to have been produced by relatively stationary bottom-feeding fish, morphologically similar to ancestors of Gobiidae, probably in the Actinopterygii class. The majority of fish-made trace fossils record feeding and locomotion behaviour, whereas the wing-shaped traces are interpreted to represent resting structures made by fish that pressed their fins downward on the muddy sediment surface and hence, represent undertracks. These traces are possibly the oldest fish-made structure documented thus far. These wing-shaped traces are described as Pisquiesichnus dashtgardi igen. et isp. nov. in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ichnological analysis, particularly assessing bioturbation index, provides critical parameters for characterizing many oil and gas reservoirs. It provides information on reservoir quality, paleodepositional conditions, redox conditions, and more. However, accurately characterizing ichnological characteristics requires long hours of training and practice, and many marine or marginal marine reservoirs require these specialized expertise. This adds more load to geoscientists and may cause distraction, errors, and bias, particularly when continuously logging long sedimentary successions. In order to alleviate this issue, we propose an automated technique to determine the bioturbation index in cores and outcrops by harnessing the capabilities of deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) as image classifiers. In order to find a fast and robust solution, we utilize ideas from deep learning. We compiled and labeled a large data set (1303 images) composed of images spanning the full range (BI 0–6) of bioturbation indices. We divided these images into groups based on their bioturbation indices in order to prepare training data for the DCNN. Finally, we analyzed the trained DCNN model on images and obtained high classification accuracies. This is a pioneering work in the field of ichnological analysis, as the current practice is to perform classification tasks manually by experts in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fraser River Delta exhibits distinct asymmetry in the sedimentological and neoichnological characteristics of the updrift (south) and downdrift (north) sides of the main distributary channel in water depths below storm-wave base. The asymmetry is the result of net northward tidal flow. Tides erode sediments across the updrift delta front, whereas the downdrift delta front is an area of net deposition. A submarine channel prevents sand eroded from the updrift delta front from reaching the downdrift delta. The updrift delta front and updrift upper prodelta are composed of sand or heterolithic sand and mud that show a low density of burrowing (Bioturbation Index 0 to 3) and are dominated by simple traces. The downdrift delta front and prodelta, and the updrift lower prodelta are composed of homogeneous muds with significantly higher bioturbation intensities (Bioturbation Index 3 to 6), and a more diverse suite of traces akin to Cruziana Ichnofacies. Using the Fraser River Delta as an archetype and comparing the Fraser to the Amazon River Delta, a preliminary model for deep-water (below storm-wave base: ca 20 m) asymmetrical deltas is proposed. Firstly, deep-water asymmetrical deltas are recognized from sediments deposited below storm-wave base. At these depths, tidal and ocean currents are more likely to impact sediment transport, but wave processes are less effective as a sediment transport mechanism. Sediments deposited below storm-wave base in deep-water asymmetrical deltas will display the following: (i) the updrift delta front will be coarser-grained (for example, sand-dominated or heterolithic sand and mud), than the downdrift delta front (for example, mud-dominated); and (ii) the updrift delta front should show low-diversity suites of simple burrows. Depending on sedimentation rates, the downdrift delta front and prodelta may show either high diversity suites of traces that are dominated by both complex and simple burrows (low sedimentation rates) or low density and diversity suites akin to the updrift delta front (high sedimentation rates). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic sedimentary structures, or traces, on the modern seafloor (neoichnology) record organism behaviors in response to physico-chemical conditions; consequently, they, act as analogues to similar structures preserved in the sedimentary record. Neoichnological insights are fundamental to the broad fields of paleobiology, paleontology, and sedimentology. This paper summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding animal-sediment interactions in siliciclastic shallow-marine environments with the aim of helping workers link their observations of biogenic structures to trace-making organisms and to predict the environmental conditions under which those traces were produced. This knowledge base is useful for reconstructing paleo-ecosystems and evolutionary trends through Earth history, as well as for constructing integrated facies models that explain the nature and distribution of sedimentary strata. Annelids, bivalves, crustaceans, echinoderms, sponges, and sea anemones produce most marine bioturbation. These organisms respond in predictable ways to major physical and chemical stressors in their environment. Such stressors include sediment texture, substrate consistency, sedimentation rate, subaerial exposure, temperature, turbidity, oxygenation, and water salinity. Invertebrates prefer to burrow in sand and firm mud, and generally avoid water saturated mud and coarse-grained sediment. Loosegrounds and softgrounds display the most diverse trace assemblages, compared to stiff, firm, and hard substrates. Low sedimentation rates result in high bioturbation intensity and diverse trace assemblages. Increasing sedimentation rate decreases the intensity of bioturbation. Subaerial exposure shifts faunal populations towards trophic generalists who produce simple structures. Highly turbid water causes deposit-feeding behaviors to predominate. Water salinity controls endobenthos and their burrowing assemblages. Normal marine conditions have diverse ichnofauna, whereas brackish water settings display low diversity but sometimes high-density bioturbation. Hypersaline waters contain low diversity ichnofaunas. Low dissolved oxygen manifests in low abundances, diversities, and densities of trace assemblages. With increasing latitude, burrowing organisms shift to deeper water, burrowing by crustaceans decreases, polychaete-generated structures are more abundant, and the size of burrows increases. Despite the current knowledge base of invertebrate neoichnology in siliciclastic shallow marine environments, the link between physico-chemical environmental stressors and burrowing remain mostly qualitative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Fraser River delta front exhibits asymmetry with respect to its neoichnological, biological, and sedimentological characteristics on opposing sides of the main distributary channel, as well as the submarine canyon seaward of the channel. This phenomenon is attributed to asymmetric tidal flow, wherein there is a net northward tidal flow along the delta front. The southern delta front lying updrift of the Main Channel, is primarily composed of sandy beds and bedsets that exhibit low bioturbation intensities (BI 0–3) and limited biodiversity (H` 0.9–1.4). Tracemakers in the updrift delta front predominantly consist of polychaetes and bivalves that produce suites dominated by simple vertical and horizontal traces attributable to the Skolithos Ichnofacies. The suites consist of traces comparable to Thalassinoides, Planolites, Skolithos, rare Conichnus, and Cylindrichnus. The northern delta front lying downdrift of the Main Channel, and the prodelta consist of muddy beds and bedsets that display high bioturbation intensities (BI 3–6) and diverse infaunal populations (H` 1.4–2.3). Polychaetes, bivalves, and echinoderms comprise the main tracemakers, and these infauna produce complex and robust ichnological suites typical of the Cruziana Ichnofacies. The downdrift delta front and prodelta trace assemblage includes traces comparable to Skolithos, Planolites, Thalassinoides, Artichnus, Palaeophycus, Conichnus, Asterosoma, Rosselia, Cylindrichnus, Gyrolithes, Teichichnus, Phycosiphon, Arenicolites, Polykladichnus, and Scolicia. The spatial distribution (area and volume) of biogenically induced sediment disruption indicates that the updrift delta front is significantly less bioturbated than its downdrift counterpart. Additionally, the prodelta does not exhibit evidence of asymmetry with respect to its neoichnological character; all spatial variability is recorded in delta front positions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Holothurians (sea cucumbers) constitute one of the largest and most abundant infaunal groups inhabiting the Fraser River delta front (0 to 150m water depth) and prodelta (greater than 150m water depth). The spatial distribution and density of animals reveal their preferred substrate grain sizes, and their tolerance or sensitivity to various stress factors, including salinity fluctuations, available food resources, sedimentation rate, and pollution. In the delta front, below 25m water depth (below storm-wave base), holothurians are asymmetrically distributed with respect to the main distributary channel. Population densities primarily reflect asymmetry in grain-size distributions across the delta front. Holothurians are absent or occur in low density in the sand-dominated southern delta front (SDF) whereas the mud-dominated northern delta front (NDF) is more heavily colonized. Sedimentation rate and nutrient content are equally important in holothurian distribution. Population densities of certain holothurians show significant increase where there are moderate sedimentation rates (2–4cmyr−1), and river-derived nutrient supply. Several subsurface traces and their surface expressions are attributed to holothurians. Subsurface traces include diminutive- and robust-Artichnus, Thalassinoides, and U-shaped bio-deformation structures. On the sediment surface, bio-topographic structures such as mounds and funnel-shaped depressions are produced by the activity of sea cucumbers. Of the holothurian-generated traces, only Artichnus can conclusively be attributed to sea cucumbers. Based on the distributions of the trace makers of Artichnus, we hypothesize that in the rock record this trace fossil can be used as evidence of stable euhaline salinity conditions, and sediment deposition and colonization below storm-wave base. Artichnus occurs mainly in mud-dominated (>55% mud) substrates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]