Abstract
Crustacean burrows are largely known and well described in the literature but a concurrence of abundant burrows and fossil remains of decapods represents an exceptional circumstance in the geological record. Well-preserved burrows of decapod crustaceans in the Pliensbachian of the Trento carbonate platform, northern Italy, reveal several ichnoassemblages of Thalassinoides and Ophiomorpha from 2 to 16 cm in diameter forming complex burrow systems in the lagoonal facies of the Rotzo Member. These burrows have been found both in the lower surface of beds and within shallowing-upwards cycles of fossiliferous limestones (Lithiotis facies), which reveal peculiar taphonomic characteristics. The abundant concentration of decapod crustacean burrows suggests intense burrowing activity of such organisms during the Early Jurassic as indicated also by an exuvia of Phlyctisoma (Erymidae), although we do not know if it was an active tracemaker. Many shallowing-upward parasequences occur and burrow systems were concentrated mainly in their lower part suggesting intense biological activity in deeper and quiet subtidal conditions; conversely, biologic activity was interactive with physical agents in the middle part of cycles and progressively replaced by wave or tidal-induced physical agents in the upper part where intertidal/supratidal conditions were formed.
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