Supporting Information - University of Kansaspeople.ku.edu/~jjsmith/Publications/Smith et al, 2009...trace fossils are categorized into behavioral groups that repre-sent likely sediment

Supporting InformationSmith et al. 10.1073/pnas.0909674106SI TextIchnotaxonomy. Tracemaker interpretations are based on mor-phologic comparisons with traces produced by extant burrowingorganisms in modern continental environments (Table S1). Thetrace fossils are categorized into behavioral groups that repre-sent likely sediment moisture conditions at the time of traceformation based on the water needs and tolerances of the mostlikely tracemaker, or, in some cases, the paleohydrologic con-ditions implied by the most common lithofacies associations (1,2). The behavioral groups are as follows: (i) terraphilic—organisms living within the vadose zone for which high soilmoisture is a limiting factor; (ii) hygrophilic—organisms livingwithin the vadose zone for which low soil moisture is a limitingfactor; or (iii) hydrophilic—organisms living below the watertable within a soil, or living on or below the sediment surface inopen bodies of water.

Naktodemasis bowni. Sinuous, unbranched, and unlined burrowscomposed of nested, ellipsoid-shaped, packets backfilled withthin and discontinuous meniscate-laminae (Fig. 1 A and Fig. S1A–C). Burrows range from 1 to �150 mm long and havecircular to elliptical cross-sections 0.7–14 mm in diameter. Themeniscate laminae are accentuated typically by alternatingcolors corresponding to mottling in the host rock. Nearly allspecimens are natural cross-sections. Naktodemasis bowni areinterpreted as the locomotion and traces of adult and larvalburrowing-insects, most likely burrower bugs (Hemiptera:Cydnidae), cicada nymphs (Hemiptera: Cicadae; Fig. S1 D andE), scarabaeid beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) or carabidbeetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) (3, 4). Such terraphilic tohygrophilic burrowing insects are most abundant in rooted Ahorizons and upper B horizons in soils with 7–37% moisturecontent (5).

Cylindricum isp. Vertical, straight to slightly sinuous, unbranchedburrows with unornamented surfaces and circular to ellipticalcross-sections (Fig. 2B and Fig. S2 A and B). Burrows are 20–150mm long and 1–41 mm in diameter with gently nontapering,rounded, and unenlarged terminations when preserved. Inter-preting the Cylindricum isp. tracemaker is complicated by theobservation that such simple vertical burrows are constructed astransient or temporary domichnia of many organisms on modernfloodplains. Similar burrows are produced by extant beetles(Insecta: Coleoptera), bees and wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera),emerging cicada nymphs (Insecta: Hemiptera), and spiders(Arachnida: Araneae) under terraphilic to hygrophilic soil mois-ture regimens (6–8).

Planolites isp. Horizontal to subhorizontal, straight to slightlysinuous, unlined, unbranched, smooth-walled, circular to ellip-tical burrows (Fig. 2C and Fig. S2 C and D). Burrow diametersrange from 1 to 40 mm, although most are between 5 and 9 mmand show nontapering, gently rounded termini. The tracemakingorganisms were likely burrowing either in the vadose zone(hygrophilic) or near the sediment–water interface under bodiesof standing water (hydrophilic), given the poor drainage condi-tions suggested by most of host deposits. Planolites isp. inbetter-drained paleosols may have been produced by such or-ganisms as bees and wasps (Hymenoptera: Apocrita), beetles(Insecta: Coleoptera), crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), and ants(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (6–8).

Camborygma litonomos. Vertical, straight to slightly sinuous,unlined and unbranched, cylindrical burrows with knobby andstriated surficial morphologies (Fig. S3 A–C). Burrows are 10–50mm in diameter and are up to 400 mm long, with bulbous terminiup to twice the diameter of the burrow shaft. Burrows commonlyshow thick clay coatings that obscure surficial morphologies andhighlighted by mottling in the host deposit. Camborygma litono-mos are interpreted as the burrow molds and casts of freshwatercrayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) based on their surficial mor-phology, simple burrow architecture, and relatively short lengths(9); thus they represent hydrophilic soil moisture conditions.Modern crayfish that construct similar burrows spend most oftheir lives in open waters, but burrow in areas with shallow andfluctuating water tables for the purposes of respiration, hydra-tion, reproduction, and other biological functions (10, 11).Crayfish-burrowed stratigraphic intervals at Polecat Bench arecomposed typically of red sandy mudstone and show a distinctprismatic structure because of the closely spaced Camborygma(12).

Steinichnus isp. Subvertical, straight to sinuous, unbranched,cylindrical burrows with thin, transversely striated burrow walls(Fig. S3 D and E). Burrows are 1–9 mm in diameter and up to50 mm long, although most specimens are natural cross-sectionsand true lengths are unknown. Burrow fill is structureless andsimilar to the surrounding matrix. Steinichnus isp. are interpretedas the casts of open burrows produced by compaction tunnelingin which small blocks of sediment are pushed to the side andcompacted as the tracemaker tunnels forward, creating a ridgedand knobby inner burrow surface (13). A predominantly hygro-philic tracemaker is suggested because the burrowed sedimentmust be cohesive and compressible. Similar burrows are pro-duced by such extant tracemakers as mud-loving beetles (Co-leoptera: Heteroceridae) and mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryl-lotalpidae) (7).

Edaphichnium lumbricatum. Horizontal to vertical, straight toslightly sinuous, cylindrical burrows composed of closelypacked ovoid to capsule-shaped pellets (Fig. S3F). The linearlyarranged pellets are composed of clastic grains and micriticcalcium carbonate (6) that weather in full relief with nodiscernable burrow walls. Pellets range from 2 to 10 mm longand have diameters of 0.5–5.0 mm. Edaphichnium lumbricatumare interpreted as the locomotion traces and fecal pellets ofsediment-ingesting oligochaete worms (6). Extant oligochaetesingest soil to extract seeds, decaying plant mater, the eggs orlarvae of other organisms, and microorganisms and deposit theundigested soil as a cast or pellet on the soil surface or in theopen burrow (14). Edaphichnium represent hygrophilicbehavior because air-breathing earthworms require soils suf-ficiently moist to keep from dehydrating and soft enough toburrow (7)

Cocoon Traces. Ovoid-shaped mudstone casts from 5 to 18 mmlong and from 2 to 9 mm wide, some with a fine hatchlike patternon the cast surface (Fig. S3G). The ichnofossils are not associ-ated with a burrow or part of a larger burrow system and areinterpreted as the casts of insect cocoons, most likely thoseproduced by digger wasp larvae (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)based on the cast morphology (15). Sphecid wasps constructsubterranean nests for food hoarding and to provide shelter forhatched larvae (16).

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1. Hasiotis ST (2007) Continental ichnology: Fundamental processes and controls on tracefossil distribution. Trace Fossils: Concepts, Problems, Prospects, ed Miller W, III (Elsevier,Amsterdam), pp 262–278.

2. Smith JJ, Hasiotis ST, Kraus MJ, Woody DT (2008) Relationship of floodplain ichnoco-enoses to paleopedology, paleohydrology, and paleoclimate in the Willwood Forma-tion, Wyoming, during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. PALAIOS 23:683–699.

3. Smith JJ, Hasiotis ST (2008) Traces and burrowing behaviors of the cicada nymphCicadetta calliope: Neoichnology and paleoecological significance of extant soil-dwelling insects. PALAIOS 23:503–513.

4. Smith JJ, Hasiotis ST, Kraus MJ, Woody DT (2008) Naktodemasis bowni: New ichnoge-nus and ichnospecies for adhesive meniscate burrows (AMB), and paleoenvironmentalimplications, Paleogene Willwood Formation, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming. J Paleontol82:267–278.

5. Willis ER, Roth LM (1962) Soil and moisture relations of Scaptocoris divergens Froe-schner (Hemiptera:Cydnidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 55:21–32.

6. Bown TM, Kraus MJ (1983) Ichnofossils of the alluvial Willwood Formation (lowerEocene), Bighorn Basin, northwest Wyoming, USA. Palaeogeogr PalaeoclimatolPalaeoecol 43:95–128.

7. Hasiotis ST (2002) Continental Trace Fossils (Society for Sedimentary Geology ShortCourse Notes no. 51, Tulsa, OK), p 134.

8. Ratcliffe BC, Fagerstrom JA (1980) Invertebrate lebensspuren of Holocene floodplains:Their morphology, origin and paleoecological significance. J Paleontol 54:614–630.

9. Hasiotis ST, Mitchell CE (1993) A comparison of crayfish burrow morphologies: Triassicand Holocene fossil, paleo- and neo-ichnological evidence, and the identification oftheir burrowing signatures. Ichnos 2:291–314.

10. Hobbs HH, Jr. (1942) The Crayfishes of Florida (University of Florida Publications,Gainesville, FL), p 179.

11. Hobbs HH, Jr. (1981) The Crayfishes of Georgia (Smithsonian Institute, Washington,DC), p 549.

12. Smith JJ, Hasiotis ST, Woody DT, Kraus MJ (2008) Paleoclimatic implications of crayfish-mediated prismatic structures in paleosols of the Paleogene Willwood Formation,Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, U.S.A. J Sediment Res 78:323–334.

13. Clark GR, Ratcliffe BC (1989) Observations on the tunnel morphology of HeterocerusBrunneus Melsheimer (Coleoptera: Heteroceridae) and its paleoecological signifi-cance. J Paleontol 63:228–232.

14. Lee KE (1985) Earthworms: Their Ecology and Relationships with Soils and Land Use(Academic, Sydney, Australia), p 412.

15. Evans HE (1963) Wasp Farm (Cornell Univ Press, Ithaca, New York), p 178.16. Evans HE, Eberhard MJW (1970) The Wasps (University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor,

Michigan), p 265.



Fig. S1. Field and laboratory photographs of ichnofossils from the Willwood Formation, Polecat Bench, Wyoming. (A) Naktodemasis bowni from a sandy redpaleosol. (B) Photomicrograph of N. bowni from red paleosol. (C) N. bowni from gray-green mottled red paleosol. (D and E) Results of insect burrowingexperiments. Extant cicada nymphs produce backfilled burrows very similar to N. bowni trace fossils; solid white lines trace packets, dotted lines trace internalmenisci.



Fig. S2. Field and laboratory photographs of ichnofossils from the Willwood Formation, Polecat Bench, Wyoming. (A and B) Cylindricum isp. from sandstonedeposits. (C) Carbonate-filled Planolites isp. faulted by clay slickensides. (D) Passively filled Planolites isp. from sandstone bed, traced by dotted line.



Fig. S3. Field and laboratory photographs of ichnofossils from the Willwood Formation, Polecat Bench, Wyoming. (A) Camborygma litonomos specimen. (B)Prismatic soil structure produced by closely spaced C. litonomos in a gray-mottled red paleosol. (C) C. litonomos burrow segments from a red paleosols. (D andE) Steinichnus isp. from red paleosols, traced by dotted white lines. (F) Edaphichnium lumbricatum specimens showing the range of variability in pellet size andpacking. (G). Cocoon-shaped trace fossil from fine-grained sandstone.



Table S1. Summary table of ichnofossils observed in the Willwood Formation at Polecat Bench, Wyoming, and changes in theirrelative abundances from within the PETM compared with deposits above and below the PETM

Ichnofossils N Ichnofossil description InterpretationRelative abundance within

PETM interval

Naktodemasis bowni 371 Sinuous burrows composed ofellipsoidal packets backfilledwith meniscate laminae

Backfilled locomotion traces ofburrower bugs, cicadanymphs, beetle larvae (4)

Increases (H � 9.82, P � 0.002)

Cylindricum isp. 309 Vertical, smooth-walled,cylindrical shafts withrounded termini

Dwelling traces of beetles, bees,spiders, mollusks; emergentcicada burrows (6)

Increases (H � 1.23, n.s.)

Planolites isp. 106 Horizontal, smooth-walledtunnels

Locomotion and dwelling tracesof bees, wasps, beetles, ants,crickets (7)

Decreases (H � 0.34, n.s.)

Camborygma litonomos 147 Vertical, distinctly surfacestriated or knobby shafts,some with enlarged termini

Dwelling traces of freshwatercrayfish (12)

Decreases (H � 5.27, P � 0.022)

Steinichnus isp. 54 Predominantly vertical, sinuousshafts with transverse surfacestriations

Locomotion and dwelling tracesof mud-loving beetles, molecrickets (7)

Increases (H � 4.70, P � 0.030)

Edaphichnium lumbricatum 51 Variably oriented burrowscomposed of pelleted CaCO3

or sediment

Locomotion and feeding tracesof oligochaete worms (6)

Increases (H�1.67, n.s.)

Cocoon traces 7 Ovoid, CaCO3- or sediment-filledcells with Fine hatchpatterned surfaces

Cocoons of wasps, bees (7) Increases (H � 0.33, n.s.)

Kruskal-Wallis tests (H) indicate significant changes in relative abundances within the PETM.



Table S2. Summary table of ichnotaxa diameters with stratigraphic positions and grain sizes of host deposits

Meters abovebase

PETMinterval

Host rockgrain size

Naktodemasisdiameter (mm)

Cylindricumdiameters (mm)

Planolitesdiameters (mm)

0.27 Below Fine 4.000.27 Below Fine 4.000.27 Below Fine 4.000.27 Below Fine 6.000.27 Below Fine 3.000.27 Below Fine 2.000.27 Below Fine 4.000.27 Below Fine 10.000.27 Below Fine 8.000.27 Below Fine 3.000.27 Below Fine 2.001.07 Below Coarse 12.001.07 Below Coarse 16.001.07 Below Coarse 19.001.07 Below Coarse 13.001.15 Below Fine 9.001.15 Below Fine 11.001.15 Below Fine 7.001.15 Below Fine 15.001.15 Below Fine 8.001.60 Below Fine 20.001.60 Below Fine 10.001.60 Below Fine 14.001.73 Below Coarse 4.001.73 Below Coarse 8.001.73 Below Coarse 11.001.99 Below Fine 10.00 3.001.99 Below Fine 4.001.99 Below Fine 6.002.00 Below Fine 10.002.00 Below Fine 7.002.00 Below Fine 3.002.00 Below Fine 4.002.17 Below Coarse 25.002.17 Below Coarse 20.002.17 Below Coarse 22.002.17 Below Coarse 6.002.17 Below Coarse 9.002.17 Below Coarse 5.002.17 Below Coarse 21.002.51 Below Fine 10.002.51 Below Fine 4.002.51 Below Fine 5.002.74 Below Fine 15.00 27.002.74 Below Fine 9.002.74 Below Fine 10.002.74 Below Fine 7.002.74 Below Fine 7.002.74 Below Fine 5.002.74 Below Fine 5.002.74 Below Fine 6.003.67 Below Fine 6.003.67 Below Fine 6.003.67 Below Fine 3.003.79 Below Fine 4.004.23 Below Fine 4.004.51 Below Fine 2.50 7.004.51 Below Fine 2.50 12.004.51 Below Fine 2.00 15.004.51 Below Fine 5.004.51 Below Fine 6.004.99 Below Coarse 3.00 5.004.99 Below Coarse 8.00



Meters abovebase

PETMinterval

Host rockgrain size




4.99 Below Coarse 6.005.51 Below Fine 8.005.51 Below Fine 5.005.51 Below Fine 1.805.51 Below Fine 2.005.51 Below Fine 2.505.51 Below Fine 1.205.51 Below Fine 5.005.51 Below Fine 1.505.51 Below Fine 2.005.51 Below Fine 2.005.66 Below Fine 10.006.84 Below Fine 3.006.84 Below Fine 5.007.12 Below Fine 6.007.12 Below Fine 5.009.99 Below Coarse 13.00 6.009.99 Below Coarse 7.009.99 Below Coarse 2.0010.24 Below Fine 4.00 3.0010.24 Below Fine 7.00 5.0010.24 Below Fine 4.0010.64 Below Coarse 13.0010.64 Below Coarse 14.0010.77 Below Fine 3.00 15.0010.77 Below Fine 5.0013.23 Below Coarse 25.0013.38 Below Coarse 2.0013.38 Below Coarse 5.0013.38 Below Coarse 10.0013.38 Below Coarse 22.0013.38 Below Coarse 41.0013.38 Below Coarse 25.0013.54 Below Coarse 22.0013.54 Below Coarse 21.0013.54 Below Coarse 9.0013.54 Below Coarse 15.0013.94 Below Coarse 5.0013.94 Below Coarse 11.0013.94 Below Coarse 15.0013.94 Below Coarse 8.0013.94 Below Coarse 9.0013.94 Below Coarse 14.0013.94 Below Coarse 8.0014.37 Below Fine 2.00 6.0014.37 Below Fine 4.00 20.0014.37 Below Fine 3.00 2.0014.37 Below Coarse 9.0014.37 Below Coarse 21.0014.37 Below Coarse 22.0014.37 Below Coarse 10.0014.37 Below Coarse 18.0014.53 Below Fine 10.00 11.00 17.0014.53 Below Fine 7.00 9.0014.53 Below Fine 6.00 11.0014.66 Below Coarse 6.0014.66 Below Coarse 15.0014.66 Below Coarse 20.0014.91 Below Fine 20.00 5.0014.91 Below Fine 7.00 9.0014.91 Below Fine 4.0014.91 Below Fine 3.0014.91 Below Fine 4.0014.91 Below Fine 16.00



Meters abovebase

PETMinterval

Host rockgrain size




14.91 Below Fine 9.0014.91 Below Fine 9.0014.91 Below Fine 10.0014.91 Below Fine 6.0014.91 Below Fine 12.0014.91 Below Fine 10.0015.33 Below Coarse 5.0015.33 Below Coarse 7.0015.33 Below Coarse 10.0015.74 Below Coarse 1.0015.74 Below Coarse 5.0016.24 Below Coarse 6.00 24.0016.24 Below Coarse 15.0016.24 Below Coarse 18.0017.48 Below Fine 3.0017.65 Below Fine 10.0017.65 Below Fine 4.0017.65 Below Fine 7.0017.65 Below Fine 5.0018.28 Below Coarse 3.0018.28 Below Coarse 4.0018.28 Below Coarse 2.0018.28 Below Coarse 10.0018.28 Below Coarse 6.0018.28 Below Coarse 4.0018.42 Below Coarse 14.0018.42 Below Coarse 16.0018.42 Below Coarse 7.0018.42 Below Coarse 5.0018.77 Below Fine 1.50 20.00 5.0018.77 Below Fine 2.00 21.0018.77 Below Fine 20.0018.77 Below Fine 18.0018.98 Below Coarse 4.00 4.0018.98 Below Coarse 3.00 7.0018.98 Below Coarse 4.00 25.0018.98 Below Coarse 7.0019.48 Below Coarse 10.0019.48 Below Coarse 4.0019.48 Below Coarse 6.0019.84 Below Coarse 5.0019.84 Below Coarse 5.0019.84 Below Coarse 4.0019.84 Below Coarse 3.0020.04 PETM Fine 5.0020.04 PETM Fine 6.0020.04 PETM Fine 16.0020.04 PETM Fine 1.0020.62 PETM Coarse 1.0020.62 PETM Coarse 3.0020.62 PETM Coarse 5.0020.62 PETM Coarse 16.0020.62 PETM Coarse 14.0020.62 PETM Coarse 24.0020.62 PETM Coarse 20.0021.06 PETM Coarse 5.0021.06 PETM Coarse 3.0021.55 PETM Fine 17.0021.80 PETM Coarse 6.0021.80 PETM Coarse 10.0021.80 PETM Coarse 5.0021.80 PETM Coarse 15.0021.80 PETM Coarse 30.0022.16 PETM Coarse 16.00 10.00



Meters abovebase

PETMinterval

Host rockgrain size




22.16 PETM Coarse 5.00 6.0022.16 PETM Coarse 5.00 24.0022.16 PETM Coarse 9.00 20.0022.16 PETM Coarse 9.00 10.0022.16 PETM Coarse 5.0022.16 PETM Coarse 9.0022.36 PETM Coarse 5.00 11.0022.36 PETM Coarse 6.00 9.0022.36 PETM Coarse 7.00 10.0022.36 PETM Coarse 6.00 4.0022.36 PETM Coarse 7.0022.36 PETM Coarse 6.0022.36 PETM Coarse 7.0022.36 PETM Coarse 7.0022.36 PETM Coarse 6.5022.36 PETM Coarse 18.0022.45 PETM Coarse 12.0022.45 PETM Coarse 8.0022.45 PETM Coarse 7.0022.45 PETM Coarse 8.0023.09 PETM Fine 5.0023.09 PETM Fine 6.0023.09 PETM Fine 8.0023.42 PETM Fine 6.0023.42 PETM Fine 7.0023.42 PETM Fine 11.0023.42 PETM Fine 14.0023.42 PETM Fine 9.0023.42 PETM Fine 6.0023.83 PETM Fine 8.00 1.0023.83 PETM Fine 10.00 3.0023.83 PETM Fine 14.00 1.0023.83 PETM Fine 10.00 5.0023.83 PETM Fine 18.0024.41 PETM Coarse 3.00 3.0024.41 PETM Coarse 3.00 3.0024.41 PETM Coarse 5.00 5.0024.41 PETM Coarse 8.0024.41 PETM Coarse 9.0024.91 PETM Coarse 4.0025.15 PETM Coarse 3.0025.15 PETM Coarse 5.0025.15 PETM Coarse 2.0025.77 PETM Coarse 13.00 4.0025.77 PETM Coarse 8.50 6.0025.77 PETM Coarse 10.0025.77 PETM Coarse 4.0025.77 PETM Coarse 10.0026.37 PETM Coarse 1.0026.37 PETM Coarse 3.0026.37 PETM Coarse 4.0027.78 PETM Coarse 8.0027.78 PETM Coarse 3.0027.78 PETM Coarse 3.0027.78 PETM Coarse 3.0027.78 PETM Coarse 3.0027.78 PETM Coarse 6.0027.78 PETM Coarse 2.0027.78 PETM Coarse 4.0027.78 PETM Coarse 3.0027.78 PETM Coarse 3.0028.23 PETM Coarse 2.0028.23 PETM Coarse 7.0028.23 PETM Coarse 11.00



Meters abovebase

PETMinterval

Host rockgrain size




28.23 PETM Coarse 10.0028.23 PETM Coarse 15.0028.23 PETM Coarse 3.0028.23 PETM Coarse 2.5028.86 PETM Coarse 2.0028.86 PETM Coarse 3.0028.86 PETM Coarse 5.0028.86 PETM Coarse 8.0029.09 PETM Coarse 8.0029.09 PETM Coarse 7.0029.26 PETM Coarse 8.0029.26 PETM Coarse 5.0029.26 PETM Coarse 10.0029.56 PETM Coarse 5.00 6.0029.56 PETM Coarse 8.00 10.0029.56 PETM Coarse 11.0029.56 PETM Coarse 6.0029.93 PETM Coarse 6.00 7.0031.03 PETM Coarse 9.00 6.0031.03 PETM Coarse 7.00 5.0031.03 PETM Coarse 5.0031.37 PETM Fine 1.0031.37 PETM Fine 1.5031.77 PETM Fine 10.0031.77 PETM Fine 2.5032.13 PETM Fine 1.0032.13 PETM Fine 2.0032.50 PETM Fine 4.00 7.0032.50 PETM Fine 4.00 8.0032.50 PETM Fine 3.00 5.0032.50 PETM Fine 3.0032.50 PETM Fine 2.0032.50 PETM Fine 2.0032.81 PETM Fine 3.00 10.0032.81 PETM Fine 1.0032.81 PETM Fine 3.0033.17 PETM Fine 2.00 10.0033.17 PETM Fine 3.00 25.0033.17 PETM Fine 3.00 10.0033.17 PETM Fine 5.00 8.0033.17 PETM Fine 1.0033.17 PETM Fine 3.0033.17 PETM Fine 3.0033.17 PETM Fine 3.0033.17 PETM Fine 3.0033.17 PETM Fine 3.0033.38 PETM Fine 3.00 5.0033.38 PETM Fine 3.00 4.0033.38 PETM Fine 1.00 8.0033.65 PETM Fine 3.00 8.0033.65 PETM Fine 5.00 7.0033.76 PETM Fine 3.0033.76 PETM Fine 2.0033.76 PETM Fine 2.5033.76 PETM Fine 1.0034.18 PETM Fine 8.0034.78 PETM Fine 1.0034.78 PETM Fine 2.0034.78 PETM Fine 3.0034.96 PETM Fine 1.0034.96 PETM Fine 3.0035.16 PETM Coarse 5.0035.16 PETM Coarse 10.0035.16 PETM Coarse 9.00



Meters abovebase

PETMinterval

Host rockgrain size




35.16 PETM Coarse 10.0035.16 PETM Coarse 3.0035.45 PETM Fine 2.00 7.0035.45 PETM Fine 7.0035.45 PETM Fine 6.0035.60 PETM Fine 10.0035.60 PETM Fine 8.0035.60 PETM Fine 10.0035.60 PETM Fine 9.0035.82 PETM Coarse 4.0035.82 PETM Coarse 6.0036.39 PETM Fine 2.00 5.0036.39 PETM Fine 2.00 10.0036.39 PETM Fine 1.00 13.0036.39 PETM Fine 1.50 9.0036.39 PETM Fine 2.5036.39 PETM Fine 1.0036.39 PETM Fine 2.0036.39 PETM Fine 5.0036.39 PETM Fine 6.0036.39 PETM Fine 4.0036.55 PETM Coarse 1.0036.55 PETM Coarse 3.0036.55 PETM Coarse 3.0036.55 PETM Coarse 4.0036.55 PETM Coarse 7.0037.11 PETM Coarse 3.0037.11 PETM Coarse 5.0037.46 PETM Coarse 2.00 15.00 7.0037.46 PETM Coarse 2.00 7.00 9.0037.46 PETM Coarse 2.00 10.00 8.0037.46 PETM Coarse 3.0037.46 PETM Coarse 4.0037.46 PETM Coarse 3.0037.46 PETM Coarse 6.0037.46 PETM Coarse 7.0037.46 PETM Coarse 5.0037.46 PETM Coarse 3.0037.46 PETM Coarse 2.0037.46 PETM Coarse 8.0037.86 PETM Coarse 2.00 4.0037.86 PETM Coarse 1.0037.86 PETM Coarse 3.0037.86 PETM Coarse 5.0037.86 PETM Coarse 3.0037.86 PETM Coarse 2.0037.86 PETM Coarse 1.0037.86 PETM Coarse 3.0037.86 PETM Coarse 1.5037.86 PETM Coarse 2.0037.86 PETM Coarse 1.5037.86 PETM Coarse 1.0037.86 PETM Coarse 1.0037.86 PETM Coarse 2.0037.86 PETM Coarse 3.0037.86 PETM Coarse 2.0037.86 PETM Coarse 2.0037.86 PETM Coarse 3.0037.86 PETM Coarse 2.0037.86 PETM Coarse 1.0037.98 PETM Fine 1.50 4.0037.98 PETM Fine 2.0037.98 PETM Fine 3.0037.98 PETM Fine 1.50



Meters abovebase

PETMinterval

Host rockgrain size




37.98 PETM Fine 1.0037.98 PETM Fine 4.0037.98 PETM Fine 3.0037.98 PETM Fine 4.0037.98 PETM Fine 3.0037.98 PETM Fine 4.0037.98 PETM Fine 2.0037.98 PETM Fine 1.5037.98 PETM Fine 6.0037.98 PETM Fine 2.0038.35 PETM Fine 1.0038.35 PETM Fine 3.0038.35 PETM Fine 3.0038.35 PETM Fine 2.5038.35 PETM Fine 3.0038.35 PETM Fine 1.0038.35 PETM Fine 8.0038.35 PETM Fine 3.0038.35 PETM Fine 4.0038.35 PETM Fine 6.0038.35 PETM Fine 3.0038.35 PETM Fine 4.0038.35 PETM Fine 1.0038.35 PETM Fine 3.0038.35 PETM Fine 2.0038.57 PETM Fine 3.00 3.0038.57 PETM Fine 2.0038.57 PETM Fine 1.5038.57 PETM Fine 3.0038.57 PETM Fine 1.0038.57 PETM Fine 2.0038.57 PETM Fine 3.0038.57 PETM Fine 4.0038.57 PETM Fine 3.0038.57 PETM Fine 2.0038.57 PETM Fine 2.0038.96 PETM Fine 3.0038.96 PETM Fine 4.0038.96 PETM Fine 5.0038.96 PETM Fine 4.0038.96 PETM Fine 2.0038.96 PETM Fine 1.5038.96 PETM Fine 2.0038.96 PETM Fine 2.0038.96 PETM Fine 2.0038.96 PETM Fine 3.0038.96 PETM Fine 3.0038.96 PETM Fine 11.0038.96 PETM Fine 6.0039.00 PETM Fine 5.0039.16 PETM Fine 3.0039.16 PETM Fine 2.0039.16 PETM Fine 5.0039.16 PETM Fine 2.0039.16 PETM Fine 1.5039.16 PETM Fine 2.5039.16 PETM Fine 2.5039.16 PETM Fine 1.0039.48 PETM Fine 2.00 7.0039.48 PETM Fine 3.00 5.0039.48 PETM Fine 2.00 5.0039.48 PETM Fine 2.0039.63 PETM Fine 3.0039.85 PETM Fine 3.00



Meters abovebase

PETMinterval

Host rockgrain size




39.85 PETM Fine 5.0039.85 PETM Fine 3.0039.85 PETM Fine 4.0040.08 PETM Coarse 6.0040.51 PETM Coarse 2.0040.51 PETM Coarse 1.5040.51 PETM Coarse 4.0040.51 PETM Coarse 5.0041.25 PETM Coarse 5.0041.25 PETM Coarse 3.0041.44 PETM Fine 9.0041.44 PETM Fine 10.0042.17 PETM Fine 8.0042.17 PETM Fine 5.0042.40 PETM Fine 6.00 4.0042.40 PETM Fine 2.50 4.0042.40 PETM Fine 5.0042.40 PETM Fine 3.0042.85 PETM Fine 0.6042.85 PETM Fine 1.0044.71 PETM Coarse 5.0044.71 PETM Coarse 3.0045.26 PETM Fine 10.0045.26 PETM Fine 6.0045.26 PETM Fine 8.0045.26 PETM Fine 4.0045.26 PETM Fine 9.0045.63 PETM Fine 4.00 5.0045.63 PETM Fine 3.00 9.0045.63 PETM Fine 2.50 9.0045.63 PETM Fine 2.00 6.0045.63 PETM Fine 3.00 4.0045.63 PETM Fine 4.0045.87 PETM Fine 9.0045.95 PETM Fine 3.0045.95 PETM Fine 5.0045.95 PETM Fine 4.0045.95 PETM Fine 2.0045.95 PETM Fine 2.0045.95 PETM Fine 2.5046.25 PETM Fine 5.0046.25 PETM Fine 2.0046.25 PETM Fine 1.5046.25 PETM Fine 2.5046.25 PETM Fine 25.0046.25 PETM Fine 10.0046.25 PETM Fine 9.0046.25 PETM Fine 6.0046.80 PETM Coarse 20.0046.80 PETM Coarse 15.0046.80 PETM Coarse 12.0047.27 PETM Fine 0.5047.27 PETM Fine 1.0047.64 PETM Fine 7.0047.64 PETM Fine 6.0047.64 PETM Fine 7.5049.21 PETM Fine 3.0049.21 PETM Fine 2.0049.21 PETM Fine 5.0050.19 PETM Coarse 5.0050.19 PETM Coarse 4.0050.19 PETM Coarse 8.0050.75 PETM Coarse 2.0050.75 PETM Coarse 3.00



Meters abovebase

PETMinterval

Host rockgrain size




50.75 PETM Coarse 4.0051.14 PETM Fine 15.0052.46 PETM Fine 7.0052.46 PETM Fine 5.0052.59 PETM Fine 11.0052.59 PETM Fine 7.0052.59 PETM Fine 15.0052.59 PETM Fine 7.0052.59 PETM Fine 5.0052.59 PETM Fine 20.0053.08 PETM Coarse 11.0053.08 PETM Coarse 6.0053.08 PETM Coarse 4.0053.08 PETM Coarse 4.0053.08 PETM Coarse 12.0053.08 PETM Coarse 5.0053.39 PETM Coarse 2.0053.39 PETM Coarse 3.0053.39 PETM Coarse 3.0053.39 PETM Coarse 3.0053.39 PETM Coarse 4.0053.70 PETM Coarse 3.0053.70 PETM Coarse 7.0053.70 PETM Coarse 6.0054.37 PETM Coarse 14.0054.37 PETM Coarse 7.0054.37 PETM Coarse 7.0054.37 PETM Coarse 7.0054.75 PETM Coarse 25.0054.75 PETM Coarse 8.0054.75 PETM Coarse 9.0055.70 PETM Fine 6.0056.07 PETM Fine 5.0057.23 PETM Fine 15.0058.15 PETM Coarse 10.0058.15 PETM Coarse 10.0058.15 PETM Coarse 11.0058.15 PETM Coarse 18.0058.15 PETM Coarse 14.0058.15 PETM Coarse 5.0059.76 PETM Coarse 12.0059.76 PETM Coarse 14.0060.21 PETM Coarse 14.0060.21 PETM Coarse 14.0060.21 PETM Coarse 13.0060.21 PETM Coarse 17.0060.97 PETM Coarse 5.0061.15 Above Coarse 4.0062.57 Above Coarse 7.00 5.0062.57 Above Coarse 9.00 10.0062.57 Above Coarse 3.0062.57 Above Coarse 9.0062.57 Above Coarse 7.0062.57 Above Coarse 9.0062.57 Above Coarse 3.0062.57 Above Coarse 9.0062.57 Above Coarse 10.0062.57 Above Coarse 8.0062.57 Above Coarse 7.0062.57 Above Coarse 12.0062.57 Above Coarse 10.0062.57 Above Coarse 7.0062.57 Above Coarse 9.0062.57 Above Coarse 2.00



Meters abovebase

PETMinterval

Host rockgrain size




62.57 Above Coarse 17.0062.57 Above Coarse 14.0062.94 Above Fine 9.0062.94 Above Fine 7.0062.94 Above Fine 3.0062.94 Above Fine 4.0062.94 Above Fine 3.0062.94 Above Fine 2.0062.94 Above Fine 5.0062.94 Above Fine 9.0062.94 Above Fine 4.0062.94 Above Fine 3.0062.94 Above Fine 3.0062.94 Above Fine 7.0063.06 Above Fine 4.0063.67 Above Fine 5.0063.67 Above Fine 6.0063.80 Above Fine 15.0064.49 Above Coarse 3.0064.49 Above Coarse 5.0064.66 Above Fine 5.0064.66 Above Fine 4.0064.66 Above Fine 10.0065.17 Above Coarse 13.0065.17 Above Coarse 14.0065.17 Above Coarse 12.0065.17 Above Coarse 8.0065.50 Above Coarse 5.0065.50 Above Coarse 9.0065.50 Above Coarse 7.0065.61 Above Coarse 3.0065.61 Above Coarse 5.0065.61 Above Coarse 7.0065.89 Above Fine 30.00 7.0065.89 Above Fine 21.00 7.0065.89 Above Fine 6.0067.63 Above Fine 9.00 30.0067.63 Above Fine 12.00 10.0067.63 Above Fine 6.00 28.0067.63 Above Fine 17.00 20.0067.63 Above Fine 4.00 25.0067.63 Above Fine 12.00 18.0067.63 Above Fine 19.0067.63 Above Fine 6.0067.63 Above Fine 4.0068.60 Above Coarse 10.00 15.0068.60 Above Coarse 35.00 12.0068.60 Above Coarse 32.00 8.0068.60 Above Coarse 21.0068.60 Above Coarse 16.0068.60 Above Coarse 20.0068.60 Above Coarse 30.0068.60 Above Coarse 23.0068.60 Above Coarse 12.0068.60 Above Coarse 10.0069.00 Above Fine 6.00 4.0069.00 Above Fine 7.0069.00 Above Fine 11.0069.00 Above Fine 6.0069.23 Above Fine 6.0069.23 Above Fine 4.0069.23 Above Fine 7.0069.42 Above Coarse 20.00 15.0069.83 Above Fine 12.00 6.00



Meters abovebase

PETMinterval

Host rockgrain size




69.83 Above Fine 15.0069.83 Above Fine 11.0070.06 Above Fine 4.00 1.0070.42 Above Fine 5.00 3.0070.42 Above Fine 10.00 5.0070.42 Above Fine 10.0070.69 Above Fine 5.0070.69 Above Fine 7.0071.97 Above Coarse 15.0071.97 Above Coarse 12.0071.97 Above Coarse 10.0071.97 Above Coarse 6.0071.97 Above Coarse 8.0072.88 Above Fine 3.00 10.0072.88 Above Fine 5.00 13.0072.88 Above Fine 4.0073.23 Above Fine 3.0073.23 Above Fine 13.0073.23 Above Fine 8.0073.23 Above Fine 7.0073.23 Above Fine 7.0073.64 Above Fine 9.0073.74 Above Fine 3.0074.28 Above Coarse 5.00 6.0074.37 Above Fine 15.0074.37 Above Fine 10.0074.37 Above Fine 15.0075.23 Above Coarse 20.0076.78 Above Coarse 12.0077.31 Above Fine 5.0077.31 Above Fine 5.0079.16 Above Fine 5.0079.24 Above Fine 8.0079.91 Above Fine 8.00 7.00 10.0079.91 Above Fine 3.0080.28 Above Coarse 10.0080.28 Above Coarse 12.00



Table S3. Mean burrow diameters of the three most common ichnotaxa from above and below the PETM (Non-PETM) and within thePETM interval at Polecat Bench, Wyoming

Ichnotaxa Lithology

Non-PETM PETM

Percent decreaseN Mean (mm) N Mean (mm)

Naktodemasis bowni Fine 107 6.336 169 3.399 46.35%Coarse 31 9.94 64 5.211 47.58%

Combined 138 7.145 233 3.897 45.46%Fine 58 10.672 86 8.135 23.77%

Cylindricum isp. Coarse 73 12.918 92 8.174 36.72%Combined 131 11.924 178 8.155 31.61%

Fine 27 7.556 16 4.875 35.48%Planolites isp. Coarse 34 9.265 29 6.552 29.28%

Combined 61 8.508 45 5.956 30.00%



Documents

Supporting Information - University of Kansaspeople.ku.edu/~jjsmith/Publications/Smith et al, 2009...trace fossils are categorized into behavioral groups that repre-sent likely sediment