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Abstract
Trace fossils link paleontology and sedimentology in ways that most body fossils cannot achieve. A multifaceted approach to ichnology helps to bridge the gap the biologic and geologic standpoints, to connect different levels of analysis (conceptual framework, explanatory schemata and applications), and to reconcile dichotomic views (e.g., adaptationist vs. interactionist approaches, time's arrow vs, time's cycle perspectives) by integrating the multiple aspects of the science of animal-substrate interactions. In this context, ichnologic investigations provide important links among numerous different fields. Analysis of specific ichnofaunas using this integrated approach may result in important and meaningful contributions to our understanding of paleoecology, sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, reservoir characterization, biostratigraphy, evolutionary paleoecology, paleoceanography, and paleoclimatology.
Acknowledgments
We thank Murray Gingras for inviting us to contribute to “Making Tracks.” Financial support for our research was provided by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grant 311727-05/08 awarded to Mángano, as well as by a NSERC Discovery Grant 311726-05/08 awarded to Buatois. Although we are responsible for these thoughts, our perspective on trace fossils has been strongly influenced by a large number of ichnofriends; naming just a few here would be rather unfair.