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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-013-0383-z