What does the word ichnocoenoses mean?

Question

I'm reading Dinosauria by David Weishample, et al. and came across this word. I cannot find any references to a meaning online. Here are some sample sentences. "Most ichnocoenoses have no coordinate directional orientation. Analysis with a compass-rose diagram may reveal a preferred orientation, but if there were true herding organization it should be apparent on inspection."

"Of special importance is the relative frequency of ichnospecies among track ways that lack coordinate orientations. Ichnocoenoses typically incluse one to four taxa each represented by numerous trackways and one or more other taxa represented by one or a few trackways."

Answer 1

Whew -- a mouthful!

Don't know if this helps, but:

"If dealing simply with the trace fossils in a sedimentary deposit, you would be interested in describing its environmentally related and contemporaneous trace fossils; in a modern environment, this assemblage is an ichnocoenose. The preserved record of the original ichnocoenose is an ichnofacies. "

Ah, here's a simpler one:

"ichnocoenose adj. an assemblage of trace fossils, such as an area containing dinosaur trackways "

Answer 2

Here's an explanation (ichnocoenoses are mentioned in the first paragraph 'Basic Definition of Ichnofacies'), but its difficult to understand.

Also a link to some pictures. Something to do with under-sea fossils retrieved by a bathespehere.

Answer 3

I think it means changes in the tracks or other evidences of ichnospecies.