Crustaceans are among the most important burrowers in modern marine environments and they are also important bioturbators in continental settings. In particular, decapods are a most powerful force in modifying sediments in shallow and marginal marine contexts and thus, in transforming biotopes and shaping benthic community structure.

This relevant role of burrowing crustaceans can be tracked back in time, at least through the Cenozoic and the Mesozoic, thanks to the study of trace fossils (ichnofossils). The ichnological record provides an important data base to understand crustacean bioturbation through time, which complements and is complemented by the knowledge of the body fossil record of the burrowers.

The fundamental reason to carry out a Workshop on Crustacean Bioturbation is to bring together paleontologists and biologists who are interested in this topic. This should provide an opportunity to interact, share our research and understand better our different approaches to a common subject.

• Burrow morphology: species-specific morphologies, biotaxonomic signatures, ichnotaxonomy, etc.

• Burrow construction

• Burrow function

• Crustacean adaptations to burrowing

• Evolution of burrows and burrowers

• Burrowing crustaceans as ecosystem engineers

• Environmental and paleoenvironmental significance of crustacean burrows