Micro-CT Scanning Tracks: A Means for Non-Destructively Exploring Volumetric Track Formation

Prescott, TL ORCID: 0009-0003-0836-8395, Griffin, BW ORCID: 0000-0001-9454-6212, Jannel, A ORCID: 0000-0002-6625-5693 and Falkingham, PL ORCID: 0000-0003-1856-8377 (2026) Micro-CT Scanning Tracks: A Means for Non-Destructively Exploring Volumetric Track Formation. Fossil Studies, 4 (2). ISSN 2813-6284

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Abstract

Animals frequently traverse a range of deformable substrates, leaving tracks. Track morphology is controlled by anatomy and motions of the foot, and substrate consistency, resulting in complex, three-dimensional structures that record dynamic foot-substrate interactions. Understanding such interactions can provide valuable biological and environmental insights, but visualising them remains challenging. Prior physical experiments explored track formation using various indenters impressed into a range of substrate types and consistencies. However, to visualise the deformation below the surface, destructive methods such as physical sectioning are often used, typically resulting in the sample being destroyed. Here, we present the methodology and challenges involved in experimentally generating tracks and introduce micro-CT scanning as a non-destructive approach to visualising sub-surface sediment movement during track formation. Two separate track volumes were produced using different substrate consistencies (‘soft’ and ‘very soft’) whereby sand and clay were alternately layered and then scanned during indentation by a cadaveric pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) foot. Across the two substrate consistencies, the CT reconstructions revealed differences in sub-surface sediment displacement, and in complex sub-surface features. Although there are challenges attributed to experimentally producing and visualising tracks, micro-CT offers a novel approach to viewing sub-surface sediment movement during experimental track formation in the lab.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology Q Science > QE Geology > QE701 Paleontology
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	MDPI
Date of acceptance:	23 May 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	9 June 2026
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2026 13:01
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2026 13:01
DOI or ID number:	10.3390/fossils4020014
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28783

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