Probable oribatid mite (Acari: Oribatida) tunnels and faecal pellets in silicified conifer wood from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Turonian) portion of the Winton Formation, central-western Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Fletcher, T.L. & Salisbury, S.W., XX.XX. 2014. Probable oribatid mite (Acari: Oribatida) tunnels and faecal pellets in silicified conifer wood from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Turonian) portion of the Winton Formation, central-western Queensland, Australia. Alcheringa 38, 541–545. ISSN 0311-5518.

Tunnels and faecal pellets likely made by oribatid mites have been found in silicified conifer wood from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Turonian) portion of the Winton Formation, central-western Queensland, Australia. Although this is the first identified and described record of oribatid mites in the Mesozoic of Australia, other published, but unassigned material may also be referable to Oribatida. Current understanding of the climatic significance of mite distribution is limited, but the presence of oribatids and absence of xylophagus insects in the upper portion of the Winton Formation are consistent with indications that the environment in which this unit was deposited was relatively warm and wet for its palaeolatitude. Such traces may provide useful and durable proxy evidence of palaeoclimate, but more detailed investigation of modern taxa and their relationship to climate is still needed.

Tamara L. Fletcher [[email protected]] and Steven. W. Salisbury, [[email protected]] School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia, 4072. Received 28.1.2014; revised 1.4.2014; accepted 3.4.2014.

在澳大利亚昆士兰中西部Winton组晚白垩世（Cenomanian-Turonian）部分的硅化针叶树木中发现的隧道和粪便颗粒可能由甲螨造成。虽然这是在在澳大利亚中生代首次鉴别和描述的甲螨记录，但是其它已发表的未经归类的材料也可能归于甲螨。目前对螨分布的气候意义的了解是有限的，但在Winton煤层的上部甲螨的存在以及食木昆虫的缺失表明该地层单元的沉积环境相对于其纬度来说是温暖潮湿的。这种迹象可以提供有用并持久的古气候证据，但现代类群及其与气候的关系还需更详细的研究。

Key words:

• wood-borer
• xylophagy
• ichnofossil
• Mesozoic
• plant-animal interactions
• arthropods.

Acknowledgements

Our thanks go to the staff of the Queensland Museum for the loan and permission to section the material used in this study, and also to the reviewers and editor for their advice on our manuscript. This research was funded in part by the Australian Research Council (LP0347332 and LP0776851) and The University of Queensland (to SWS), in association with Isisford Shire Council, Longreach Regional Council, Winton Shire Council, Land Rover Australia, the Queensland Museum and Carnegie Museum of Natural History.