How much variation is in the shape of fossil pupation chambers? An exploratory geometric morphometric analysis of Fictovichnus gobiensis from the Late Eocene of Oaxaca, southern Mexico

Guerrero-Arenas, Rosalía; Zúñiga-Marroquin, Tania; Jiménez-Hidalgo, Eduardo

doi:10.18268/bsgm2018v70n2a6

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 17 publications

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“…While in paleontology numerous works have contributed data on traces, to the best of our knowledge no previous studies have used the method of Fourier analysis to describe egg fossil traces. In most cases, traces reports have been qualitative descriptions based on linear dimensions (length and width) or using geometric morphometrics with landmarks (e.g., coleopteran fossil pupation chambers; Guerrero-Arenas et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geometric morphometrics to interpret the endophytic egg-laying behavior of Odonata (Insecta) from the Eocene of Patagonia, Argentina

2019

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Although the order Odonata has a rich fossil record, many questions about its reproductive biology remain unanswered. There are two strategies of egg laying among odonates, exophytic and endophytic, the latter being one of the most revealing vestiges of plant–insect association in the fossil record. We assessed whether geometric morphometrics based on elliptical series of Fourier allow expression of variability of shape in traces of Odonata eggs within a leaf of Eucalyptus chubutensis (Berry) González (in part), González, 2009 (Myrtaceae) from Laguna del Hunco (Chubut, Argentina) (early Eocene) and whether this variability is consistent with the ichnotaxonomy of this material. We found that the largest variation corresponds to the compression of the shape while the remaining two components reflect variations in the apex position and its curvature, which changed according to the relative position of the traces in the leaf. There was no evidence that the hardness of the leaf would affect the shape of the egg trace. We postulate that these traces could have been produced by one single female: Variations in the pattern observable in the fossil of an originally three-dimensional structure are consistent with differences in the position of the eggs inserted by a single female who has flexed her abdomen to insert the eggs as she approaches the apex of the leaf (behavior observed also in extant dragonflies). For the first time, endophytic egg traces are analyzed with geometrical morphometrics, and this allows us to make inferences on the oviposition behavior of a female that lived around 52 million years ago.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geometric morphometrics to interpret the endophytic egg-laying behavior of Odonata (Insecta) from the Eocene of Patagonia, Argentina

2019

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A review of the glacial environment arthropod trace fossilsUmfoloziaandWarvichniumwith the description of new ichnotaxa

de Barros,

de C. P. e M. Peixoto,

Lima

et al. 2023

Papers in Palaeontology

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Trace fossils are important records of the presence and behaviour of animals in the past, especially in deposits where few body fossils are preserved. They tend to provide the main palaeobiological record for past glacial environments, and are thus very important for understanding the ecology of these palaeoenvironments. Two ichnogenera are common in glacial sediments: Umfolozia and Warvichnium. Both Umfolozia and Warvichnium are attributed to arthropods; the former occurs across the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age (LPIA) and the latter occurs during both the LPIA and the Quaternary glacial event. Here, we review the stratigraphic record, ichnotaxonomy, palaeoecology, palaeoenvironments and possible tracemakers of these two ichnogenera. In addition to assessing morphological ichnotaxobases, we use multivariate morphometric analysis and inferential statistical tests to support our ichnotaxonomic revisions. The diagnosis of Umfolozia is revised, with the description of a new ichnospecies, Umfolozia terere, and the emendation of Umfolozia riojana (formerly Umfolozia longula). We revised Warvichnium, maintaining the original Warvichnium ulbrichi and allocating two morphologies to the ichnogenus Irichnus: Irichnus saltatorius and I. paripinnatus isp. nov. These trace fossils record several behaviours, and have implications for palaeoenvironmental interpretations and the evolution of invertebrate ecosystems. Using Umfolozia and Warvichnium as case studies, we demonstrate the application of morphometric analysis in ichnotaxonomy and highlight this as a tool that may be applied to other trace‐fossil groups.

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How much variation is in the shape of fossil pupation chambers? An exploratory geometric morphometric analysis of Fictovichnus gobiensis from the Late Eocene of Oaxaca, southern Mexico

Cited by 2 publications

References 17 publications

Geometric morphometrics to interpret the endophytic egg-laying behavior of Odonata (Insecta) from the Eocene of Patagonia, Argentina

Geometric morphometrics to interpret the endophytic egg-laying behavior of Odonata (Insecta) from the Eocene of Patagonia, Argentina

A review of the glacial environment arthropod trace fossilsUmfoloziaandWarvichniumwith the description of new ichnotaxa

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