Abstract
Characterization of trace fossils in marine core sediments is, most times, difficult due to the weak differentiation between biogenic structures and the host sediment, especially in pelagic and hemipelagic facies. This problem is accentuated where a high degree of bioturbation is associated with composite ichnofabrics. Simple methods are presented here based on modifications to image features such as contrast, brightness, vibrance, saturation, exposure, lightness, and color balance using the software Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA, USA) to enhance visibility and thus allow for a better identification of the trace fossils. Adjustments involving brightness, levels and vibrance generally give better results. This approach was applied to marine cores of pelagic and hemipelagic sediments obtained from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 339, Site U1385. Enhancing the digital images facilitates ichnological analysis through improving the visibility of weakly observed trace fossils, and in some cases revealing traces not detected previously.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bouma AH (1964) Notes on X-ray interpretation of marine sediments. Mar Geol 2:278–309. doi:10.1016/0025-3227(64)90045-3
Bromley RG (1996) Trace fossils. Biology, taphonomy and applications. Chapman & Hall, London
Buatois LA, Mángano G (2011) Ichnology. Organism–substrate interactions in space and time. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Davey E, Wigand C, Johnson R et al (2011) Use of computed tomography imaging for quantifying coarse roots, rhizomes, peat and particle densities in marsh soils. Ecol Appl 21:2156–2171. doi:10.1890/10-2037.1
Dufour SC, Desrosiers G, Long B et al (2005) A new method for three-dimensional visualization and quantification of biogenic structures in aquatic sediments using axial tomodensitometry. Limnol Oceanogr-Meth 3:372–380
Gerard JRF, Bromley RG (2008) Ichnofabrics in clastic sediments: applications to sedimentological core studies. Jean R.F. Gerard, Madrid
Gingras MK, MacMillan B, Balcom BJ (2002a) Visualizing the internal physical characteristics of carbonate sediments with magnetic resonance imaging and petrography. Bull Can Petrol Geol 50:363–369
Gingras MK, MacMillan B, Balcom BJ et al (2002b) Using magnetic resonance imaging and petrographic techniques to understand the textural attributes and porosity distribution in Macaronichnus-burrowed sandstone. J Sediment Res 72:552–558
Grimm KA, Lange CB, Gill AS (1996) Biological forcing of hemipelagic sedimentary laminae: evidence from ODP site 893, Santa Barbara Basin, California. J Sediment Res 66:613–624
Honeycutt CE, Plotnick R (2008) Image analysis techniques and gray-level co-occurrence matrices (GLCM) for calculating bioturbation indices and characterizing biogenic sedimentary structures. Comput Geosci 34:1461–1472. doi:10.1016/j.cageo.2008.01.006
Howard JD (1968) X-ray radiography for examination of burrowing in sediments by marine invertebrate organisms. Sedimentology 11:249–258. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3091.1968.tb00855.x
Joschko M, Graff O, Muller PC et al (1991) A non-destructive method for the morphological assessment of earthworm burrow systems in three dimensions by X-ray computed tomography. Biol Fert Soils 11:88–92. doi:10.1016/0016-7061(93)90111-W
Knaust D (2012) Methodology and techniques. In: Trace fossils as indicators of sedimentary environments. Developments in sedimentology, vol 64. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 245–271
Knaust D, Bromley RG (2012) Trace fossils as indicators of sedimentary environments. Developments in sedimentology, vol 64. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Löwemark L (2003) Automatic image analysis of X-ray radiographs: a new method for ichnofabric evaluation. Deep-Sea Res PT I 50:815–827
Löwemark L, Schäfer P (2003) Ethological implications from a detailed X-ray radiograph and 14C study of the modern deep-sea Zoophycos. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl 192:101–121
Löwemark L, Werner F (2001) Dating errors in high-resolution stratigraphy: a detailed X-ray radiograph and AMS-14C study of Zoophycos burrows. Mar Geol 17:191–198
Magwood JPA, Ekdale AA (1994) Computer-aided analysis of visually complex ichnofabrics in deep-sea sediments. Palaios 9:102–115
McIlroy D (2004) The application of ichnology to palaeoenvironmental and stratigraphical analysis. Geological Society Special Publication, vol 228. The Geological Society, London
Pemberton SG, Spila M, Pulham AJ et al (2001). Ichnology & sedimentology of shallow to marginal marine systems: Ben Nevis & Avalon reservoirs, Jeanne d'Arc Basin. Geological Association of Canada, Short Course Notes, vol 15. Newfoundland, p 343
Platt BF, Hasiotis ST, Hirmas DR (2010) Use of low-cost multistripe laser triangulation (MLT) scanning technology for three-dimensional, quantitative paleoichnological and neoichnological studies. J Sediment Res 80:590–610. doi:10.2110/jsr.2010.059
Qi Y, Wang M, Liu Y (2008) Computer-aided analysis and quantitative study of complex ichnofabrics. In: Proceedings of information technology and environmental system sciences, ITESS, vol 3, pp 544–547
Rosenberg R, Gremare A, Duchene JC et al (2007) Application of computer-aided tomography to visualize and quantify biogenic structures in marine sediments. Mar Ecol-Prog Ser 363:171–182. doi:10.3354/meps07463
Expedition 339 Scientists (2013a) Expedition 339 summary. Stow, D.A.V., Hernández-Molina, F.J., Alvarez Zarikian, C.A. and the Expedition Scientists
Expedition 339 Scientists (2013b) Site U1385. Stow, D.A.V., Hernández-Molina, F.J., Alvarez Zarikian, C.A. and the Expedition Scientists
Acknowledgments
This research used samples and/or data provided by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). Funding for this research was provided by Project CGL2012-33281 (Secretaría de Estado de I + D + I, Spain), and Project RNM-3715 and Research Group RNM-178 (Junta de Andalucía). The research of JD was financed with a pre-doctoral grant supported by the University of Granada. Editor Maurice Tucker and the two reviewers (Drs. Dirk Knaust and Ludwig Löwemark), provided useful comments and suggestions.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Consortia
Corresponding author
Additional information
IODP Expedition 339 Scientists: Hernández-Molina F.J., Stow D.A.V., Alvarez-Zarikian C., Acton G., Bahr A., Balestra B., Ducassou E., Flood R., Flores J.-A., Furota S., Grunert P., Hodell D., Jimenez-Espejo F., Kim J.K., Krissek L., Kuroda J., Li B., Llave E., Lofi J., Lourens L., Miller M., Nanayama F., Nishida N., Richter C., Roque C., Pereira H., Sanchez Goñi M., Sierro Sanchez F., Singh A., Sloss C., Takashimizu Y., Tzanova A., Voelker A., Williams T., Xuan C.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dorador, J., Rodríguez-Tovar, F.J. & IODP Expedition 339 Scientists. Digital image treatment applied to ichnological analysis of marine core sediments. Facies 60, 39–44 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-013-0383-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-013-0383-z