188-6 Predator-Prey Interactions of Plio-Pleistocene Mollusks of the West Atlantic Coastal Plain

Session: Linking Biodiversity Loss to Environmental Stressors Through Integrated Approaches (Posters)

Presenting Author:

Authors:

Abstract:

Previous studies have been done on the predation of mollusks in the fossil record, but little work has focused on the biases impacting estimates of predation frequency. Gastropod bore holes are a minimally damaging form of predation compared to crushing by crabs and other predators, which effectively remove shells from the fossil record. Due to this, gastropod predation is more widely studied than duurophageous predation. This research is a continuation of the previous research on mollusk predator-prey interactions in the West Atlantic Coastal Plain. Using previously collected mollusk fossils categorized by species and collecting data on length, width, and thickness of shells, as well as complete and incomplete drill holes, and shell repair scars from failed durophageous predation which will be documented and compiled in a data set. The information will then be analyzed by species along with having an overall analysis completed for all bivalves and all gastropods in a given sample population. Using the Plio-Pleistocene regional extinction as a study system, the aim of the research is to test the previous assumptions of preserved drilling predation and evaluate the durophagy bias. The use of statistical methods such as the Vermeij crushing analysis to test both at the genus and species level will give various trends that will be analyzed to validate, refute, or alter the necessity of common assumptions in past and future studies. Reducing the bias in this type of research will lead to better statistical models being implemented in other studies and a better understanding of predation changes over time.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-10924

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