Lacustrine Environments

The ichnology of lacustrine systems is influenced by the tectonic and climatic setting of the lake basin, which controls the distribution of plants and animals through its direct effect on abiotic factors (e.g., salinity, hydrochemical conditions). Trace fossils in lake basins comprise numerous types of subaerially and subaqueously produced burrows, trackways, trails, and nests, many of which are produced by insects and other air-breathing organisms. The lateral and vertical distributions of trace-fossil assemblages, and their associated sedimentary environments, can be better understood if the lake type is considered. Three main types of lake basins, which differ in the relationship between the potential accommodation of the basin and the amount of water and sediment supplied to the basin, control lithofacies assemblages as well as the abiotic conditions that control animal and plant distribution. In this chapter, we characterize the types of trace fossils found in lacustrine environments, their common recurrent associations, and their distributions as controlled by typical environmental conditions within the three main lake-type basins.