A. A. (TONY) EKDALE

 

Professor Tony Ekdale, Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, University of Utah

EDUCATION:  
Ph.D. (Geology), Rice University, Houston, TX, 1974
M.A. (Geology), Rice University, Houston, TX, 1973
B.A. (Geology), Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, 1968

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY AFFILIATIONS:  
AAAS, Fellow (American Association for the Advancement of Science)
GSA (Geological Society of America)
NAGT (National Association of Geoscience Teachers)
PS (Paleontological Society)
SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology)
UGA (Utah Geological Association)

CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS AT UNIVERSTY OF UTAH (2009):
Michelle Mary (M.S. candidate)
Sherie Harding (Ph.D. candidate)
Jim Lehane (Ph.D. candidate)

Sherie Harding and Michelle Mary in Utah (August 2008)

RECENT PUBLICATIONS:
Benner, J. S., Ekdale, A. A., and Gibert, J. M. de, 2008, Enigmatic organisms preserved in early Ordovician macroborings, western Utah, USA: In Wisshak, M., and Tapanila, L., Ed., Current Developments in Bioerosion: Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p. 55-64. 

Ekdale, A. A., Bromley, R. G., and Loope, D. B., 2007, Ichnofacies of an ancient erg: a climatically influenced trace fossil association in the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone, southern Utah, U.S.A.: In Miller, W., III, Ed., Trace Fossils: Concepts, Problems, Prospects: Elsevier, Amsterdam, p. 562-574.

Tapanila, L., and Ekdale, A. A., 2007, Early history of symbiosis in living substrates: trace fossil evidence from the marine record: In Miller, W., III, Ed., Trace Fossils: Concepts, Problems, Prospects: Elsevier, Amsterdam, p. 345-355.

Difley, R. L., and Ekdale, A. A., 2006, Trace fossils and paleoenvironments of the Early Jurassic Kayenta Formation, Washington County, Utah: In Proceedings, 20th Desert Symposium, CSU Desert Research Center, Zyzxx, CA.

Ekdale, A. A., 2006, Paleozoic bivalve borings: In McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology 2006: McGraw-Hill, New York, p. 221-224.

Ekdale, A. A., & Tripp, A., 2005, Paleontological sonification: letting music bring fossils to your ears: Jour. of Geoscience Education, 53:271-280.

Benner, J. S., Ekdale, A. A., Gibert, J. M. de, 2004, Macroborings (Gastrochaenolites) in Lower Ordovician hardgrounds of Utah: sedimentologic, paleoecologic, and evolutionary implications: Palaios, 19:543-550.

Ekdale, A. A., & Bromley, R. G., 2003, Paleoethologic interpretation of complex Thalassinoides in shallow-marine limestones, Lower Ordovician, southern Sweden: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 192:221-227.

Ekdale, A. A., & Lamond, R. E., 2003, Behavioral cladistics of trace fossils: evolution of derived trace-making skills: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 192:335-343.

Gibert, J M. de, & Ekdale, A. A., 2002, Ichnology of a restricted epicontinental sea, Arapien Shale, Middle Jurassic, Utah, USA: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 183:275-286.

Difley, R. L., & Ekdale, A A, 2002, Faunal implications of an environmental change before the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) transition in central Utah: Cretaceous Research, 23:315-331.

Difley, R. L., & Ekdale, A. A., 2002, Footprints of Utah’s last dinosaurs: track beds in the Upper Cretaceous North Horn Formation of the Wasatch Plateau, central Utah: Palaios, 17:327-346.
 
Ekdale, A. A., Benner, J. S., Bromley, R. G., & Gibert, J. M. de, 2002, Bioerosion of Lower Ordovician Hardgrounds in Southern Scandinavia and Western North America: Acta Geologica Hispanica, 37:9-13.

Ekdale, A. A., & Bromley, R. G., 2001, A day and a night in the life of a cleft-foot clam: Protovirgularia-Lockeia-Lophoctenium: Lethaia, 34:119-124.

Ekdale, A. A., & Bromley, R. G., 2001, Bioerosional innovation for living in carbonate hardgrounds in the Early Ordovician of Sweden: Lethaia, 34:1-12.

Martinell, J., Gibert, J. M. de, Domenech, R., Ekdale, A. A., & Steen, P. P., 2001, Cretaceous ray traces?: An alternative interpretation for the alleged dinosaur tracks of La Posa, Isona, NE Spain: Palaios, 16:437-444.

RECENT ABSTRACTS FOR SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS:
Harding, S. C., and Ekdale, A, A., 2009, Implications of trace fossils in glauconite-rich terrigenous marine sediments: case studies of Cambrian sites in Texas and Wisconsin: GSA Rocky Mt. Section Ann. Mtg., Orem, UT, Abs.

Ekdale, A, A., and Mary M., 2009, Substrate revolution in the early Paleozoic of Utah: the oldest evidence of macroboring adaptive strategies in western North America: GSA Rocky Mt. Section Ann. Mtg., Orem, UT, Abs.

Harding, S. C., and Ekdale, A, A., 2009, Trace fossils in the green zone: ichnology and sedimentology of Cambrian glauconitic greensands: AAPG Ann. Mtg., Denver, CO, Abs.

Ekdale, A, A., 2008, Burrows vs. borings: a good ichnologist should be able to tell the difference: Sixth International Bioerosion Workshop, Salt Lake City, UT, Abs.

Mary, M., and Ekdale, A, A., 2008, Pleistocene rock eaters: bioerosion history of southern Florida and the Florida Keys, USA: Sixth International Bioerosion Workshop, Salt Lake City, UT, Abs.

Ekdale, A, A., and Gibert, J. M. de, 2008, The Spongeliomorpha Code: deciphering the bioglyph inscriptions on the walls of the ancient tunnels of Murcia: GSA Ann. Mtg., Houston, TX, Abs.

Mary, M., and Ekdale, A, A., 2008, Bioerosion of the Pleistocene Key Largo Limestone in the Florida Keys: GSA Ann. Mtg., Houston, TX, Abs.

Ekdale, E. G., Colbert, M. W., & Ekdale, A, A., 2007, Invertebrates in vertebrates: a study in vertebrate taphonomy utilizing computed tomography (CT): Texas Academy of Sciences Ann. Mtg., Waco, TX, Abs. p. 90.

Ekdale, A. A., 2006, History of hard habitat homes: the role of bivalves in the evolution of the macroboring niche: Fifth International Bioerosion Workshop, Erlangen, Germany, Abs.

Ekdale, A. A., Ekdale, E. G., & Colbert, M. W., 2006, Invertebrate trace fossils inside vertebrate skulls: the worms crawl in, and the worms crawl out: GSA Ann. Mtg., Philadelphia, PA, Abs. p. 476.

Nara, M., & Ekdale, A. A., 2006, Paleoecological reconstruction of Cylindrichnus concentricus in the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of the Book Cliffs, Utah: GSA Ann. Mtg., Philadelphia, PA, Abs. p. 476.

Colbert, M. W., Ekdale, E. G., Ekdale, A. A., & Jamniczky, H. A., 2006, The vertebrate skull as a habitat for invertebrate animals: SVP Ann. Mtg., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Difley, R. L., & Ekdale, A. A., 2006, Trace fossils and paleoenvironments of the Early Jurassic Kayenta Formation, Washington County, Utah: 20th Desert Symposium, CSU Desert Research Center.

Difley, R. L., & Ekdale, A. A., 2005, Paleoenvironment of a trace fossil marker unit in the Late Cretaceous North Horn Formation, Utah: GSA Ann. Mtg., Salt Lake City, UT, Abs. p. 138.

Ekdale, A. A., 2005, Life beneath the sea floor: paleoecology of tiered ichnocoenoses in marine environments: GSA Ann Mtg., Salt Lake City, UT, Abs. p. 403.

Tapanila, L., & Ekdale, A. A., 2005, A hard rock life: the guild concept in understanding organisms that exploit the endolithic habitat: GSA Ann Mtg., Salt Lake City, UT, Abs. p. 403.

Ekdale, A. A., 2004, Paleontological sonification in the classroom: using sound to teach the shapes of fossils: GSA Ann. Mtg., Denver, CO, Abs. p. 278.

Ekdale, A. A., 2004, Ichnological sonification: sound ideas for interpreting trace fossils and fossil behavior: Ichnia-2004, International Congress on Ichnology, Trelew, Argentina.

Tapanila, L. M., & Ekdale, A. A., 2004, Impact of an impact: benthic recovery immediately following the Late Devonian Alamo event: GSA Ann. Mtg., Denver, CO, Abs. p. 313.

Tripp, A. C., & Ekdale, A. A., 2003, Geological sonification: using auditory signals to represent geologic data: AAPG Ann. Mtg., Salt Lake City, UT, Abs. p. 172.

Ekdale, A. A., 2003, Interpretation of sonified ichnofabrics: hearing the music of bioturbation and bioerosion: Seventh International Ichnofabric Workshop, Basel, Switzerland.

Loope, D. B., Ekdale, A., A., & Bromley, R. G., 2003, Intensely bioturbated ichnofabric in a jurassic eolianite, Navajo Sandstone, southern Utah, U.S.A.: Seventh International Ichnofabric Workshop, Basel, Switzerland.

Ekdale, A. A., 2002, Sonification paleontologic data: hearing fossil shapes: GSA Ann. Mtg., Abs. p. 33.

Ekdale, A. A. 2001, Stromatolite-influenced ichnofabrics in Cambro-Ordovician limestones, Great Basin of western Utah, U.S.A.: Sixth International Ichnofabric Workshop, Caracas, Venezuela.

Ekdale, A. A., 2001, Substrate-controlled development of composite bioturbation-bioerosion trace fossils: North American Paleontological Convention, Berkeley, CA.

Tony Ekdale and Richard Bromley in Switzerland (July 2003)

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
    My scientific interests are centered on the tangible evidence of intangible aspects of ancient life, such as the fossil record of animal behavior, sensory perception and ecological interactions.  In this context, I am keenly interested in animal-sediment interrelationships, including trace fossils (biogenic sedimentary structures) and the processes of bioturbation (biological mixing of unconsolidated sediments) and bioerosion (penetration of hard substrates by organisms).

    Over the years, I have engaged myself in ichnologic and paleoecologic studies in deep-sea (abyssal), bathyal, neritic, littoral (intertidal) and terrestrial (fluvial and eolian) paleoenvironments, and I have worked on rocks of Cambrian, Ordovician, Devonian, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Tertiary and Quaternary age, as well in modern environments extending from the deep sea through the intertidal realm onto land.  I’ve done paleontologic work, mostly on trace fossils, in North America (U.S. and Mexico), Europe (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Spain, France and Italy), Africa (Kenya and Morocco) and New Zealand.

 

Jordi Maria de Gibert and Tony Ekdale in Spain (May 2008)

RECENT AND CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS:
•    Pleistocene reef bioerosion in the Florida Keys (with Michelle Mary)
•    Miocene crustacean burrow systems in eastern Spain (with Jordi Maria de Gibert)
•    Eocene trace fossil associations in glauconitic greensands in Texas (with Sherie Harding)
•    Cretaceous chalk ichnofabrics in Denmark (with Richard Bromley)
•    Jurassic eolianite trace fossils in Utah (with Richard Bromley & David Loope)
•    Devonian trace fossil associations in Nevada (with Leif Tapanila)
•    Ordovician hardground trace fossils in Sweden (with Richard Bromley)
•    Ordovician trace fossils in western Utah (with Jake Benner and Jordi Maria de Gibert)
•    Cambrian trace fossil associations in greensands in Texas & Wisconsin (with Sherie Harding)
•    Endocranial ichnology inside fossil vertebrate skulls (with Eric Ekdale & Matt Colbert)
•    “Phylogenetic analysis” & behavioral cladistics of trace fossils (with Bob Lamond)
•    Sonification of ichnologic information

 

Tony Ekdale with GEO 6760 (Advanced Sedimentology) class in Florida Everglades (May 2007)

TEACHING/MENTORING PHILOSOPHY:

    We all should be life-long learners, and the University is a wonderful and valuable place to explore infinite opportunities to expand the frontiers of human knowledge.  At the undergraduate level, I see that my role as a professor is to provide my students with the conceptual framework, factual basis and tricks of the trade to explore and understand the long, complex, fascinating history of our planet and the living world.  After all, every one of us lives on, travels across and utilizes resources from Planet Earth.  Thus, I don’t believe that it’s too much to ask that every intelligent, educated person (whether a scientist her/himself or not) should have some fundamental knowledge and basic understanding of this planet that we all inhabit.  Of course, this especially includes people who work professionally in government, business, health, social and educational fields.

    At the graduate level, I see that my role as a professor is to serve as a hands-on facilitator to assist intelligent and committed students to become independently creative and accomplished scientists who can stand on their own two feet in the professional scientific community.  I regard my graduate students as my junior colleagues who are engaged with me in our collaborative scientific activities rather than as subordinates in a more traditional teacher-student or boss-employee type of relationship.  I am not here to spoon-feed information or micro-manage the research projects of my graduate students.  Instead, I am here to share creative ideas and offer practical guidance as they pursue their own research objectives.

 

GEO 5180 (Paleoecology) class studying intertidal ecology in Sonora, Mexico (September, 2007)

 

GEO 5280 (Ichnology) class studying Cretaceous trace fossils in the Wasatch Plateau (Oct. 2008)

COURSES TAUGHT CURRENTLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH:
GEO 1050 “National Parks: Geology Behind the Scenery” (General Education course designed to introduce non-majors to the geological wonders of America’s spectacular national parks and national monuments)

GEO 3180 “Paleobiology” (Introductory course in paleontology for undergraduate Geoscience majors; includes lectures, labs and fossil-collecting field trips)

GEO 5180/6180 “Paleoecology” (Graduate-level seminar course focusing on interpretation of ecological aspects of the fossil record; includes a major field trip to a modern marine coast)

GEO 5280/6280 “Ichnology” (Graduate-level seminar course focusing on interpretation of trace fossils in their paleoecologic, sedimentologic and stratigraphic contexts; includes field trips to numerous trace fossil sites in Utah)

 

GEO 3180 (Paleobiology) class collecting invertebrate fossils in central Utah (March 2009)