PREDATION-FACILITATED PRESERVATION OF ECHINOIDS IN A TROPICAL MARINE ENVIRONMENT

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Research Article| October 30, 2018 PREDATION-FACILITATED PRESERVATION OF ECHINOIDS IN A TROPICAL MARINE ENVIRONMENT CARRIE L. TYLER; CARRIE L. TYLER 1Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar TROY A. DEXTER; TROY A. DEXTER 2Gerace Research Centre, University of the Bahamas, San Salvador Island, The Bahamas Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ROGER W. PORTELL; ROGER W. PORTELL 3Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar MICHAŁ KOWALEWSKI MICHAŁ KOWALEWSKI 3Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information CARRIE L. TYLER 1Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, USA TROY A. DEXTER 2Gerace Research Centre, University of the Bahamas, San Salvador Island, The Bahamas ROGER W. PORTELL 3Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA MICHAŁ KOWALEWSKI 3Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA email: tylercl@miamiOH.edu Publisher: SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology First Online: 30 Oct 2018 Online Issn: 1938-5323 Print Issn: 0883-1351 Copyright © 2018, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) PALAIOS (2018) 33 (10): 478–486. https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2018.046 Article history First Online: 30 Oct 2018 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation CARRIE L. TYLER, TROY A. DEXTER, ROGER W. PORTELL, MICHAŁ KOWALEWSKI; PREDATION-FACILITATED PRESERVATION OF ECHINOIDS IN A TROPICAL MARINE ENVIRONMENT. PALAIOS 2018;; 33 (10): 478–486. doi: https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2018.046 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyPALAIOS Search Advanced Search Abstract Actuopaleontological studies of echinoids and their predators in modern ecosystems can augment our ability to identify and interpret the fossil record of predation. Here, we examine present-day interactions between the spatangoid Meoma ventricosa and the drilling gastropod Cassis tuberosa from a shallow tropical marine habitat (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) to assess the impact of drilling predation on the fossilization potential of echinoids, estimate drilling frequency, characterize drill hole morphology, and evaluate size and site selectivity of predators. Cassids produced recognizable drill holes ranging from 2–14 mm in diameter. A comparison of drilled versus live individuals suggested that predation was size-selective with preference toward smaller prey (p << 0.001), whereas landmark morphometrics revealed no evidence of stereotypy in specific attack site, drill holes were preferentially located on the oral side of the test (85.2%). Although the annual mortality of M. ventricosa attributed to C. tuberosa was 0.021 individuals per m2, the drilling frequency in samples of dead echinoid tests was 96.8%. This exceedingly high drilling frequency most likely reflects the fact that echinoids killed by C. tuberosa—a predator that immobilizes, drills, kills, and consumes M. ventricosa buried in the sediment—have a greater chance of preservation than echinoids that died due to other causes (e.g., fish predation). These results not only suggest that the frequency of drilled prey specimens may greatly exaggerate the importance of certain species of drilling predators, but also indicate that certain predators may play a critical role in enhancing the fossilization potential of their prey. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.