The modern and fossil record of farming behavior

Hsieh, Shannon; Schassburger, Alec; Plotnick, Roy E.

doi:10.1017/pab.2019.25

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The bioglyphs on the walls of the Clayton Spongeliomorpha are predominately rhombohedral, reflecting the substrate plucking action of chelae during burrow excavation (Ekdale & Gibert ); transverse bioglyphs that may or may not reflect grazing are relatively rare. As recently noted by Hsieh et al (), previous interpretations of gardening or farming behaviours among certain tracemakers, including modern and ancient crustaceans, have yet to be supported by conclusive evidence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Firmground crustacean burrow systems (Glossifungites ichnofacies) in marine shelf deposits, Paleocene Clayton Formation, Alabama, USA

Foster

Savrda

DeMetz

et al. 2020

LET

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The Paleocene (Danian) Clayton Formation of western Alabama, USA, includes multiple marine shelf parasequences, each comprising a relatively thick marl, capped by a thin limestone, the latter variably reflecting marine flooding episodes. The marls host relatively large firmground burrow systems that penetrate 50–60 cm beneath, and are cast by, superjacent limestones. Excavation of two partially exposed burrow systems – one beneath a highstand parasequence‐bounding flooding surface and the other beneath an overlying coplanar sequence boundary/transgressive surface (SB/TS) – reveals complex, primarily horizontal, irregularly branching networks. The former, allied with Thalassinoides paradoxicus, lacks wall bioglyphs, whereas the latter, allied with Spongeliomorpha iberica, is characterized by pervasive, mainly rhombohedral wall bioglyphs that reflect a relatively more firm substrate. Contrasts between these burrow systems are consistent with sequence stratigraphical context and inferred differences in the mechanism and magnitude of depositional hiatuses responsible for firmground development. Both excavated burrow systems likely represent cumulative structures produced by multiple organisms over extended periods of time. The cumulative nature and potential taphonomic biases associated with these and comparable burrow systems in the stratigraphical record preclude confident interpretation of tracemakers and their behaviours. The Clayton burrow systems likely were produced by one or more species of decapod crustacean that engaged in suspension‐feeding, surface detritus feeding, gardening or some combination thereof.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Firmground crustacean burrow systems (Glossifungites ichnofacies) in marine shelf deposits, Paleocene Clayton Formation, Alabama, USA

Foster

Savrda

DeMetz

et al. 2020

LET

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show abstract

“…It has also been suggested that Paleodictyon tracemakers, as well as those of other complex graphoglyptid traces, have an agrichnial gardening strategy that involves the culturing of microorganisms within the burrow system as a food source 2 , 32 – 34 . This interpretation has been controversial (see discussion by Hsieh et al 35 ), but if correct, then a larger burrow wall area would provide more space in which to culture bacteria, an advantage in more oligotrophic settings but less advantageous where more food is available and a smaller mesh will suffice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Northernmost (Subarctic) and deepest record of Paleodictyon: paleoecological and biological implications

Miguez‐Salas

Rodrı́guez-Tovar

Ekdale

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Paleodictyon is one of the most iconic and widespread of trace fossils in the geological record. However, modern examples are less well known and restricted to deep-sea settings at relatively low latitudes. Here, we report the distribution of Paleodictyon at six abyssal sites near the Aleutian Trench. This study reveals for the first time the presence of Paleodictyon at Subarctic latitudes (51°–53°N) and at depths over 4500 m, although the traces were not observed at stations deeper than 5000 m suggesting that there is some bathymetric constraint for the trace maker. Two small Paleodictyon morphotypes were recognized (average mesh size of 1.81 cm), one having a central hexagonal pattern, the other being characterized by a non-hexagonal pattern. Within the study area, Paleodictyon shows no apparent correlation with local environmental parameters. Finally, based on a worldwide morphological comparison, we conclude that the new Paleodictyon specimens represent distinct ichnospecies that are associated with the relatively eutrophic conditions in this region. Their smaller size may reflect this more eutrophic setting in which sufficient food can be obtained from a smaller area in order to satisfy the energetic requirements of the tracemakers. If so, then Paleodictyon size may provide some assistance when interpreting paleoenvironmental conditions.

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“…Biologists and bio-inspired engineers already have a firmly established and fruitful relationship. However, when modern biological techniques and questions are meaningfully applied not only to modern living animals but also to the fossil record, the results are unique and can only aid in finding solutions to bio-inspired engineering concerns [28]. The deep time perspective can help roboticists and paleobiologists to investigate paleobiological questions together that have deep implications for both fields.…”

Section: Understanding Natural Selection To Improve Bio-inspired Robo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The deep time perspective: How insights from millennia of evolving and extinct animals can inform robot design decision making

Carter

Roberts²

2022

IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng.

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Animals on the visible scale have been experimenting with body form and function in enumerable enviroments for the last 540 million years. Almost all of the variation in the history of life is now gone, leaving only a tiny fraction of what is possible alive in modern animals. Recently biological and engineering techniques have made it possible to robustly answer questions only the fossil record can provide, such as the history and original functions of certain behaviors. Robotics has already begun to champion inspiration from biology, but only from the small variation seen in extant taxa. In this chapter we introduce paleontological study of a now famous source of bioinspiration: The modern African Cheetah. We discuss additional forms of high-speed pursuit predators from the lineage that demonstrate an evolutionary experiment in manuverability on uneven terrain. We also discuss how the evolution of sensing and perception does not always follow or work in concert with the evolution of the musculoskeletal system. We end by summarizing the process of our analysis so that our methods can be repeated for other animals that inspire engineers. We hope this brief primer introduces paleobiology to roboticists and demonstrates the need for biologically inspired robotics to engage with paleobiological processes, to the benefit of both robotics in developing new technology and paleobiology in answering long-standing questions about relationships between extinct forms and their functions.

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The modern and fossil record of farming behavior

Cited by 8 publications

References 55 publications

Firmground crustacean burrow systems (Glossifungites ichnofacies) in marine shelf deposits, Paleocene Clayton Formation, Alabama, USA

Firmground crustacean burrow systems (Glossifungites ichnofacies) in marine shelf deposits, Paleocene Clayton Formation, Alabama, USA

Northernmost (Subarctic) and deepest record of Paleodictyon: paleoecological and biological implications

The deep time perspective: How insights from millennia of evolving and extinct animals can inform robot design decision making

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