Defining the “Poorly Defined” in Ichnology: Biodeformational Structures, Bioturbation Fabrics, and Cryptobioturbation

July 10, 2026July 10, 2026Leave a comment

New research was recently published in Earth-Science Reviews by authors Maximiliano Paz, Luis Buatois and Gabriela Mángano tackling the problem of biodeformation and cryptobioturbation nomenclature.

Research on biodeformational structures has lagged behind that of discrete trace fossils due to their indistinct appearance and lower utility. As such, the terminology surrounding such structures has not been standardized, with many conflicting usages across literature. To rectify this problem, the authors have outlined a set of proposed definitions to create nomenclature that can adequately describe the diversity of biodeformation structures without ambiguity. The authors also make recommendations regarding semantic usage of the terms “cryptobioturbation” and “cryptobioturbation fabric” and characterize common forms of indistinct bioturbation fabrics (e.g. mottled, massive, banded).

Figure. 1. Descriptive-genetic classification of individual bioturbation structures and their relationship with the bioturbation fabric concept.

You can check out the article on Earth-Science Reviews by clicking on this link.

Written by Zane Gabriel Goodell

Ichnology of the Ediacaran–Cambrian Chapel Island Formation of Newfoundland, Canada

January 18, 2026February 20, 2026Leave a comment

Dr. Romain Gougeon, Dr. Gabriela Mángano, Dr. Luis Buatois, Dr. Guy Narbonne, Dr. Brittany Laing, and Dr. Maximiliano Paz have just published their research on bioturbation at the onset of the Cambrian Explosion within the monograph series Fossils and Strata. This is the culmination of 4 field seasons that took place from 2016 to 2021 at the Cambrian-type section in Newfoundland. The monograph consists of a comprehensive ichnotaxonomic review that is essential to understanding the Cambrian explosion from a trace-fossil perspective.

Romain Gougeon and colleagues conducting fieldwork in Newfoundland, Canada. See Fossils and Strata for open access monograph.

The Chapel Island Formation is a 1000+ m-thick, mainly siliciclastic succession that is well-exposed in coastal cliffs of Burin Peninsula, southeastern Newfoundland, eastern Canada. This unit contains an outstanding record of the transition from the Ediacaran (635–538 Ma) to the Cambrian (538–487 Ma). Fossils from the Chapel Island Formation include an incredible diversity of trace fossils, with some intervals rich in small shelly fossils. The monograph integrates sedimentologic and ichnologic information for the whole formation, reinforces the status of the current Cambrian Global Stratotype Section and Point for the Cambrian System, and advocates for the need for more comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approaches and studies to fully decipher the scale, tempo, and loci of the early evolution of animal life on Earth.

Congratulations to Romain and the team on this incredible achievement! You can check out Romans’ ResearchGate profile here, where you can read other studies he’s authored on the Chapel Island Formation throughout the years. These include the origin of the shelf sediment mixed layer and the impact of outcrop quality on trace fossil datasets.

Written by Jack Milligan and Romain Gougeon

Eastend Summer Fieldwork 2024

October 2, 2024October 3, 2024Leave a comment

Throughout this past summer, I had the opportunity to volunteer with the Saskatchewan Geologic Survey under Dr. Meagan Gilbert in my hometown of Eastend, Saskatchewan. This project aimed to characterize the stratigraphy and depositional environments of the Upper Cretaceous and lower Paleogene of southwest Saskatchewan.

Skolithos isp. in a crossbedded sandstone fluvial channel deposit in the buff facies of the Upper Ravenscrag Formation in southwestern Saskatchewan. Photo provided by Mollie Black

We went to many different geologic outcrops around the town of Eastend. A typical day consisted of taking measurements and samples (so many samples) across the section. A section was first chosen based on the extent of exposed bedrock and then measured from the lowermost exposed bedrock to the top. It wasn’t all just rocks, though! We also found many neat trace fossils and plant fossils, including many just above the KPg boundary.

A huge thank you to all landowners who allowed access to their land.

Written by Mollie Black and Dr. Meagan Gilbert

Congrats to Ichnoplanet masters students!

September 21, 2024January 13, 2026Leave a comment

We have had a busy summer, and we want to start by congratulating Jack Milligan, Kaitlin Lindblad, Federico Wenger, and Kathrine Thue for successfully defending their M.Sc. theses!

Jack studied the depositional context of bioeroded dinosaur bones from the upper Cretaceous of Saskatchewan; Kaitlin studied the biogeography, environment and paleoecology of crocodylians from the northern plains; Federico studied the ichnodiversity and bioturbation of Devonian shallow marine deposits in Argentina, and Kathrine studied the sedimentology and ichnology of Silurian-Devonian deposits in Asturias, Spain.

Once again, congrats to these new masters of ichnology!

Written by Jack Milligan

Congrats Dr. Andrei Ichaso!

January 7, 2024September 21, 2024Leave a comment

Last week, our own Andrei Ichaso successfully defended his doctoral thesis! His thesis focused on the stratigraphy, sedimentology, and ichnology of the middle Cambrian to Early Ordovician Deadwood Formation in western Canada and the midwestern United States. Congratulations Dr. Ichaso!

Andrei’s doctoral thesis earned him the University of Saskatchewan Graduate Thesis Award in the Physical & Engineering Sciences category from the College of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies at USASK. Congratulations Andrei!

Check out Andrei’s ICHNOPLANET profile here.