Mottled Color Research Articles

Petroarcheologický výzkum tří nefritových seker z Moravy a českého Slezska

In 1989, 2002 and 2021, three axes were found in Moravia and Czech Silesia, which share a similar appearance and typology. Two of these axes (Bolatice near Opava, Hlinsko near Lipník nad Bečvou) can be dated to the Early Eneolithic (Funnel Beaker Culture), while the third (Archlebov near Ždánice) was a surface find in an area with pottery fragments corresponding to the Moravian Painted Ware Culture. The raw material used in the axes is almost macroscopically identical and has a striking mottled colour. Mineralogical methods (determination of magnetic susceptibility and density, X-ray diffraction record) were used for classification. The methods proved the raw material was nephrite with a significant presence of clinopyroxene. Our comparison with nephrite occurrences in Central Europe has shown the nephrite source at Jordanów Śląski in Polish Silesia to be the most probable source

Stripes and loss of color in ball pythons (Python regius) are associated with variants affecting endothelin signaling.

Color patterns in nonavian reptiles are beautifully diverse, but little is known about the genetics and development of these patterns. Here, we investigated color patterning in pet ball pythons (Python regius), which have been bred to show color phenotypes that differ dramatically from the wildtype form. We report that several color phenotypes in pet animals are associated with putative loss-of-function variants in the gene encoding endothelin receptor EDNRB1: (1) frameshift variants in EDNRB1 are associated with conversion of the normal mottled color pattern to skin that is almost fully white, (2) missense variants affecting conserved sites of the EDNRB1 protein are associated with dorsal, longitudinal stripes, and (3) substitutions at EDNRB1 splice donors are associated with subtle changes in patterning compared to wildtype. We propose that these phenotypes are caused by loss of specialized color cells (chromatophores), with loss ranging from severe (fully white) to moderate (dorsal striping) to mild (subtle changes in patterning). Our study is the first to describe variants affecting endothelin signaling in a nonavian reptile and suggests that reductions in endothelin signaling in ball pythons can produce a variety of color phenotypes, depending on the degree of color cell loss.

Identification of treated Baltic amber by FTIR and FT-Raman – A feasibility study

Heat-treated succinite modified under air, oxygen or inert gas atmosphere to improve its colour and clarity, was studied with Fourier-Transform Infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and referenced to variously altered untreated samples. For treated amber, the macroscopic observations revealed diagnostic features such as (1) the presence of discoidal “ sun sparkles” inside the crumbs; (2) unusual colours (e.g. dark red) for transparent specimens; (3) mottled colour patches in “beeswax” and “dragon’s blood” amber; (4) luminescence quenching; and (5) significant reduction of pine-tree resinous smell. On FTIR spectra the heat treatment of succinite is mainly marked by: (1) the intensity decrease of 2932 cm−1 band (>CH2 and –CH3), followed by the intensity increase of line at 1732 cm−1; (2) the shifts of the band from ν(C = O) towards lower wavenumbers (from 1735 cm−1 to 1714 cm−1); (3) the decrease of intensity of the band at 888 cm−1 ((=CH2 or –CH = CH–); (4) some slight distortion of “Baltic shoulder” in the region 1100–1300 cm−1. The Principal Component Analysis applied to FTIR spectra enabled to distinguish not only untreated amber from treated one, but also recognize the modifications made under oxygen conditions from the ones in an inert gas. On RS spectra of the treated Baltic amber, the heat modifications are indicated by: (1) slight value increase of the relative intensity ratio I1650/1445 compared to untreated succinite; (2) the shift of bands near 1650 (C = C) and 1445 cm−1 (CH2, CH3) towards higher wavenumbers.

Quick Test with Tetrazolium Chloride on Coffee Seed Viability

The germinative capacity of coffee seeds may be evaluated within 2 days by using the following procedure: 1. The parchment is removed from a representative sample of coffee seeds and the seeds are soaked in water for an hour or more. Soaking for 24 hours is recommended for older and drier seeds. 2. The silverskin then is rubbed off, the seed rinsed, and kept in water ready for sectioning. 3. With a sharp blade, the seed is sectioned longitudinally through the embryo (slicing off a small portion of the cotyledons and radicle) which is imbedded in the endosperm but visible from the dorsal side. 4. The part with the larger section of the embryo is fully immersed for 16 to 24 hours in the TZ test solution (0.5 to 1.0 percent 2,3,5 triphenyl tetrazolium chloride in distilled water, adjusted to pH 5 to 7). 5. After immersion, the seed sections are rinsed and the embryo and endosperm examined carefully. Uniform red pigmentation on the embryo and endosperm indicates healthy viable seed. Pink or mottled coloration indicates weak seed of doubtful germinative capacity. White or no color change indicates dead seed. 6. Reading of results may be delayed several days by rinsing the treated seeds with water and storing them underwater at 8° to 10° C. It is recommended that more tests be conducted to determine more accurately the relationship between TZ test results and actual germination tests, especially those borderline cases exhibiting pink or mottled coloration. An easier method of exposing the uninjured whole embryo to the test solution could help in these cases. It also may be worth looking into a much longer duration of soaking before sectioning as this affects speed of reaction to the test, especially on older and drier seeds.

Clinical symptoms of damage to the lateral surface of the tibia of dairy cows of different phenotype in the conditions of industrial dairy production

The results of the influence of the conditions of keeping Ukrainian red dairy cows on the manifestation of clinical symptoms of damage to the lateral surface of the tibia and the level of reproduction are presented. The study was conducted on the basis of an industrial dairy complex (600 dairy cows with an average productivity of 6050 kg of milk per lactation) as part of agricultural associations in Odessa region. The objects of the study were cows during lactation, which were kept loose in sections with rest boxes (where the floor was a special rubber mat with a thickness of 30 mm). Evaluation (in points) was performed on the clinical manifestation of symptoms of damage to the skin epithelium of the lateral surface of the leg, which was injured by the rubber coating of the stall compared to the level of reproduction (service period, days/%) and the severity of skin pigmentation of the body surface (selection melanism). Clinical, zootechnical, biometric methods were comprehensively applied to realize the purpose of research. Comparison of data (n = 462) visual-clinical assessment of the condition of the skin of the lateral surface of the leg, as an indicator of the adaptability of lactating cows to keep in sections with rubber flooring and the area of pigmented hair of animals of different phenotypes by coat color, showed that cows typical pigmentation, characteristic of red dairy breed (red hair occupied more than 80 % of the body surface), wound lesions of the lower leg are much less common, namely: in comparison with red-spotted animals by 28.41–15.98 %, with mostly white – by 39.03–20.23 %, respectively. Due to the negative impact of open wounds of the skin of the leg on the immunity of lactating cows, it was found that increasing the number of animals with damaged epithelium as a gateway to infection, provokes an increase in the service period in cows with predominantly white or mottled color to 140.97 and 141.07 days, which is higher by 6.74 and 6.84 days, respectively, compared with red animals (P < 0.05).

Effect of early exposure to predation on risk perception and survival of fish exposed to a non-native predator

Exposure to predation should affect prey responses to predators by selecting for threat recognition and/or general risk avoidance. We investigated whether native and non-native predator density on the home reefs of juvenile striped parrotfish, Scarus iseri, which reflects their early exposure to predation risk, influences their behavioural responses and survival when faced with some of these predators under controlled conditions. In aquaria, parrotfish exhibited evasive behaviour, in the form of increased immobility and increased distance from threat, in response to visual and chemical cues from native predatory grouper (Epinephelus striatus) but not from invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois sp.), suggesting no evidence of risk perception in relation to the non-native predator. However, parrotfish from high-risk reefs exhibited more evasive behaviours and colour responses (i.e. more mottled coloration) in response to all stimuli than parrotfish from low-risk reefs. Moreover, more parrotfish from high-risk reefs than from low-risk reefs survived in direct encounters with lionfish, and those parrotfish that survived were those that had displayed increased immobility when exposed to lionfish cues. We suggest that predation, especially by non-native lionfish, targeting risk-taking fish could result in greater overall cautiousness in some prey populations. This heightened risk avoidance ultimately aids prey fish to evade non-native lionfish, even in the absence of predator recognition.

Pure Painting and Mottled Colour

On the eve of World War I, Guillaume Apollinaire announced the birth of ‘pure painting’. Scholars have typically understood this as an early version of mid-century theories of abstract art; however, that interpretation ignores the poet’s close association with Robert and Sonia Delaunay. Those artists were deeply influenced by M. E. Chevreul, a nineteenth-century colour theorist who showed that complementary hues appear more pure when seen simultaneously. Most often discussed in relation to the phenomenological changes that occur when red and green are viewed side-by-side, simultaneous contrast suggests an alternative view of purity. For the Delaunays, pure painting was not a retreat from the world, but a way of making its dichotomies and conflicts more visible.

Paraschistura makranensis, a new loach from the Jegin River drainage in southern Iran with comments on P. ilamensis and P. pasatigris (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae).

Paraschistura makranensis, new species, is described from the Jegin River drainage in southern Iran. It is distinguished from its congeners in Iran by having a plain brown or slightly mottled colour pattern on the flanks, a very slender body with a relatively short head, a complete lateral line extending almost to the caudal-fin base, the caudal peduncle covered by scales, and a suborbital flap in males. Paraschistura makranensis is distinguished from P. bampurensis and P. hormuzensis, its closest relatives in our dataset, by an uncorrected-pairwise distance based on the COI data of 4.0 and 5.4%, respectively. We treat Paraschistura pasatigris as a synonym of P. ilamensis.

Hypoxia weakens mussel attachment by interrupting DOPA cross-linking during adhesive plaque curing.

Marine mussels (Mytilus spp.) attach to a wide variety of surfaces underwater using a network of byssal threads, each tipped with a protein-based adhesive plaque that uses the surrounding seawater environment as a curing agent. Plaques undergo environmental post-processing, requiring a basic seawater pH be maintained for up to 8 days for the adhesive to strengthen completely. Given the sensitivity of plaques to local pH conditions long after deposition, we investigated the effect of other aspects of the seawater environment that are known to vary in nearshore habitats on plaque curing. The effect of seawater temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen concentration were investigated using tensile testing, atomic force microscopy and amino acid compositional analysis. High temperature (30°C) and hyposalinity (1 PSU) had no effect on adhesion strength, while incubation in hypoxia (0.9 mg l-1) caused plaques to have a mottled coloration and prematurely peel from substrates, leading to a 51% decrease in adhesion strength. AFM imaging of the plaque cuticle found that plaques cured in hypoxia had regions of lower stiffness throughout, indicative of reductions in DOPA cross-linking between adhesive proteins. A better understanding of the dynamics of plaque curing could aid in the design of better synthetic adhesives, particularly in medicine where adhesion must take place within wet body cavities.

Pathological study on urea utilization by poultry

The present work aimed to investigate the histopathological aspects, growth performance, urea residue in muscle and liver of broilerbirds and chemical composition of the breast muscles in birds fed graded levels of urea –treated ration. 80, day old chicks werereared for 6 weeks. After one week of age, chicks were randomly divided into 4 equal groups fed on 1.25%, 2.5%, 5% and 0% ureain their ration. Five birds from each group were sacrificed at the day 7, 14, 28 and 35 from adding urea. The most clinical signswere respiratory symptoms, watery diarrhea and staggering gait. Body weight and feed consumption were increased in group I &II, while the group III showed mild decrease. Urea residue in muscle and liver increased significantly in group III when comparingwith other groups. The chemical composition of the muscle showed that the moisture content in group III was high thangroup IV. There was non-significant increase in the crude protein level in group II. There was significant increase in ashpercent in group II. The fat content in the muscle of all urea treated groups was significant decrease than IV group. Grossly,kidneys and the liver were severe enlarged with pale anemic and mottled coloration. Lungs and the muscles were severe congestedand dark brownish color with petechial and linear hemorrhage in muscle. The brain showed mild hyperemia. Histopathologicalexamination in the kidneys showed degenerative changes in the epithelial cell lining of the renal tubules. The glomeruli showedshrinkages of their glomerular tuft and hyalinization of the Bowman's capsules. Liver showed focal areas of necrosis in the hepaticparenchyma. There was severe thickening of the hepatic capsule. The bile duct showed hyperplasia of their epithelial cell liningwith the presence of desquamated epithelia in the ductile lumen with newly formed bile ductile. Most of hepatic and pulmonaryblood vessels showed thrombosis. Lungs and muscle and brain showed congestion of the blood vessels. The bronchioles showedcatarrhal bronchopneumonia. There was osseous metaplasia among the pulmonary tissue. The neuron was suffering fromTygrloysis with presence of satellotosis and neurophagia. The intestine showed degenerative changes. Myomalecia of some musclecell and suffering from mild degree of hyaline degeneration. It is recommended that lower inclusion levels of urea diets (1.25%)rather than the 2.5% and 5% used in this study be employed for a short period of time.

Mid-latitude terrestrial climate of East Asia linked to global climate in the Late Cretaceous: COMMENT

Mid-latitude terrestrial climate of East Asia linked to global climate in the Late Cretaceous: COMMENT

Genesis and evolution of the fragipan in Albeluvisols in the Precarpathians in Ukraine

The fragipan (Bx) is a subsurface soil horizon restricting the penetration of roots and infiltration of water due to its high bulk density, low total porosity, and discontinuous voids (so-called closed box system). Additionally, the pan is characterized by a hard or very hard consistence when dry, but brittle when moist. The genesis and evolution of the fragipan have been the subject of many research studies, and numerous theories and models concerning these issues can be found in the literature. The principal aims of this study were to: 1) explain the genesis of the fragipan in Albeluvisols in the Precarpathians in Ukraine, basing on micromorphological studies and quantitative mineral composition analyses and 2) propose a model of pan formation and evolution under moderately humid climate conditions. The abundance of clay coatings and clay infillings as well as iron–clay cutans within the studied fragipan indicates that the formation of the pan is related to the translocation of colloids (clay minerals and iron hydroxides) from upper soil horizons. This leads to the filling of voids in the Btx horizon and a decrease in the porosity and hydraulic conductivity of the pan. The enrichment of the fragipan in clay minerals (especially in swelling clay minerals) is responsible for the subsequent degradation of the pan due to wetting and drying, leading to the swelling and shrinking of soil material. The occurrence of many Fe–Mn nodules and a mottled color indicates cyclical wetting and drying within the studied fragipan. In effect, vertical cracks are formed, which serve as pathways for water infiltrating down the soil profile. The water washes out weathering products (iron oxides and clay minerals) from soil material adjacent to the cracks. This leads to the formation and development of bleached tongues along the vertical cracks, which penetrate the fragipan.

Intra-guild predation among early benthic phase red and blue king crabs: Evidence for a habitat-mediated competitive advantage

The apparent shift in predominance of commercial crab species from blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus) to red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) around the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, USA, may be driven by ecosystem-level processes such as competitive displacement or predation during early life stages. Specifically, intra-guild predation among species during the early benthic phase might be a source of mortality limiting blue king crab population recovery. In a laboratory experiment, we evaluated how varying ratios of prey species (year-0 blue and red king crabs) and habitat type (shell and cobble) affect prey preference of year-1 red king crabs. Year-0 red king crabs were preferentially consumed over blue king crabs in shell habitat, but not cobble, likely because the smaller interstitial spaces in shell reduced predator foraging efficiency and predator–prey encounter rates. Blue king crabs had high levels of crypsis regardless of habitat type or predator presence/absence, while red king crabs were less cryptic overall compared to blue king crabs, but crypsis increased when predators were present. Preference for red king crabs in shell may reflect divergent adaptations between species for minimizing predation. Blue king crab's light, mottled coloration and relatively smooth, flat carapace is well adapted for visual and physical crypsis in shell habitat, while the monochromatic, dark coloration and pronounced spination of red king crabs may make them more conspicuous. Our results show that habitat can mediate intra-guild predation between Paralithodes species and suggest that shell material may provide blue king crabs a competitive advantage over red king crabs. The extent of shell habitat may be an important factor regulating blue king crab distribution or the recovery of depleted populations around the Pribilof Islands.

Cambarus (P) theepiensis, a new species of crayfish (Decapoda:Cambaridae) from the coalfields region of Eastern Kentucky and Southwestern West Virginia, USA.

Cambarus (Puncticambarus) theepiensis is a stream-dwelling crayfish that appears to be endemic to the junction of the Cumberland Mountains with the Appalachian Plateau in West Virginia and Kentucky. Within this region, it is prevalent in the Guyandotte and Twelvepole basins of West Virginia, the Little Sandy River and Levisa Fork basins of Kentucky, and tributaries of the Big Sandy River shared by both states. The new species is morphologically most similar to Cambarus robustus and Cambarus sciotensis. It can be differentiated from C. robustus by its broad rostrum, with subparallel, thick-ened margins compared to the narrow, converging rostrum with reduced rostral margins of C. robustus.; larger areola width/length ratio (26 %) than C. robustus (22 %); and mottled color pattern compared to the monotypic color pattern of C. robustus. Canibarus theepiensis can be differentiated from C. sciotensis by the presence of a distinct lateral impression on the chelae compared to the absence of a lateral impression in C. sciotensis; constant thickness of the rostral margin compared to the gradation of rostral thickness in C. sciotensis; greater rostrum width/ length ratio in C. theepiensis (63.1 %) compared to C. sciotensis (57.2 %); and a central projection on the gonopod that is the same length as the mesial process, compared to a central projection that extends past the tip of the mesial process in C. sciotensis.

Uniform ripening Encodes a Golden 2-like Transcription Factor Regulating Tomato Fruit Chloroplast Development

Modern tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) varieties are bred for uniform ripening (u) light green fruit phenotypes to facilitate harvests of evenly ripened fruit. U encodes a Golden 2-like (GLK) transcription factor, SlGLK2, which determines chlorophyll accumulation and distribution in developing fruit. In tomato, two GLKs--SlGLK1 and SlGLK2--are expressed in leaves, but only SlGLK2 is expressed in fruit. Expressing GLKs increased the chlorophyll content of fruit, whereas SlGLK2 suppression recapitulated the u mutant phenotype. GLK overexpression enhanced fruit photosynthesis gene expression and chloroplast development, leading to elevated carbohydrates and carotenoids in ripe fruit. SlGLK2 influences photosynthesis in developing fruit, contributing to mature fruit characteristics and suggesting that selection of u inadvertently compromised ripe fruit quality in exchange for desirable production traits.

ATTACHMENT AND PROLIFERATION OF RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIAL CELLS ON SMALL INTESTINE SUBMUCOSA POWDER IMPREGNATED POLY(L-LACTIDE-CO-GLYCOLIDE) FILM

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) closely interacts with photoreceptors in the maintenance of visual function. The native RPEs exist as a monolayer structure and have a mottled brown color due to the presence of melanin and other pigments including lipofuscin granules, which accumulate with age. In age-related macular degeneration (AMD), RPE's dysfunction and changes in Bruch's membrane occur. Thus, small intestine submucosa/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (SIS/PLGA) film is a biomimetic transplant consisting of a layer of healthy RPE cells cultured on a support membrane. The goals of this study were to evaluate the effects of attachment and proliferation of RPEs on SIS/PLGA films. Porcine SIS is an acellular tissue and widely used as a biomaterial without immunorejection responses, whereas PLGA is a biodegradable synthetic polymer with acceptable mechanical strength and well-controlled degradation rate. We fabricated SIS/PLGA films using 20 wt% of SIS. We measured MTT to confirm cellular adhesion of cell number attached on film at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days. Morphology of cellular adhesion on films was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy at 1, 3, and 7 days. Further, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted to confirm messenger RNA expression of RPE65 as RPE's marker and expression of cytokeratin, and RPE65 were determined by AEC immunocytochemical staining. These results suggest that SIS provides suitable surface to RPEs.

Quality changes in macadamia kernel between harvest and farm-gate

Macadamia integrifolia, Macadamia tetraphylla and their hybrids are cultivated for their edible kernels. After harvest, nuts-in-shell are partially dried on-farm and sorted to eliminate poor-quality kernels before consignment to a processor. During these operations, kernel quality may be lost. In this study, macadamia nuts-in-shell were sampled at five points of an on-farm postharvest handling chain from dehusking to the final storage silo to assess quality loss prior to consignment. Shoulder damage, weight of pieces and unsound kernel were assessed for raw kernels, and colour, mottled colour and surface damage for roasted kernels. Shoulder damage, weight of pieces and unsound kernel for raw kernels increased significantly between the dehusker and the final silo. Roasted kernels displayed a significant increase in dark colour, mottled colour and surface damage during on-farm handling. Significant loss of macadamia kernel quality occurred on a commercial farm during sorting and storage of nuts-in-shell before nuts were consigned to a processor. Nuts-in-shell should be dried as quickly as possible and on-farm handling minimised to maintain optimum kernel quality.

Dropping macadamia nuts‐in‐shell reduces kernel roasting quality

Macadamia nuts ('nuts-in-shell') are subjected to many impacts from dropping during postharvest handling, resulting in damage to the raw kernel. The effect of dropping on roasted kernel quality is unknown. Macadamia nuts-in-shell were dropped in various combinations of moisture content, number of drops and receiving surface in three experiments. After dropping, samples from each treatment and undropped controls were dry oven-roasted for 20 min at 130 °C, and kernels were assessed for colour, mottled colour and surface damage. Dropping nuts-in-shell onto a bed of nuts-in-shell at 3% moisture content or 20% moisture content increased the percentage of dark roasted kernels. Kernels from nuts dropped first at 20%, then 10% moisture content, onto a metal plate had increased mottled colour. Dropping nuts-in-shell at 3% moisture content onto nuts-in-shell significantly increased surface damage. Similarly, surface damage increased for kernels dropped onto a metal plate at 20%, then at 10% moisture content. Postharvest dropping of macadamia nuts-in-shell causes concealed cellular damage to kernels, the effects not evident until roasting. This damage provides the reagents needed for non-enzymatic browning reactions. Improvements in handling, such as reducing the number of drops and improving handling equipment, will reduce cellular damage and after-roast darkening.

Delayed harvest reduces quality of raw and roasted macadamia kernels

AbstractBACKGROUND: Macadamia integrifolia, M. tetraphylla and their hybrids are cultivated for their edible kernels. Abscised macadamia fruit is gathered from the ground, and harvest intervals vary due to management decisions or unavoidable delays. In this study, macadamia fruit from cultivar HAES 344 was harvested between May and August in three experiments in south‐east Queensland, Australia. Control fruit was dehusked, dried and evaluated immediately, while delayed harvest fruit remained on the ground under trees for periods of 3 and 5 weeks before processing. Whole kernel weight, shoulder damage and weight of pieces were assessed for raw kernels, and kernel colour mottled colour and surface damage were assessed after roasting.RESULTS: Delaying harvest for 3 weeks in experiment 1, and 3 or 5 weeks in experiment 2 reduced whole kernel and increased shoulder damage and weight of pieces. Experiment 3 raw kernel was not affected. After‐roast darkening increased in all experiments, and roasting produced severe mottled colour in one experiment, and severe surface damage in two of three experiments.CONCLUSION: Macadamia kernels may deteriorate rapidly when harvest is delayed, and both raw and roasted kernel quality may be affected. Shorter harvest intervals, preferably less than 3 weeks, will help maintain optimum kernel quality. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry

Molluscan Shell Condition After Eight Years on the Sea Floor—Taphonomy in the Gulf of Mexico and Bahamas

In 1993 and 1994, the shelf and slope experimental taphonomy initiative (SSETI) deployed shells of a suite of molluscan species in a range of environments of deposition (EODs) representing a range of depths, sediment types, and environmental conditions with the goal of measuring taphonomic rates over an extended period of time. In 1999 and 2001, SSETI retrieved skeletal remains from 41 locations in the Bahamas and on the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf and upper slope that had been on the seafloor for eight years. Here, we compare taphonomic processes in two different ocean basins, across 24 environments of preservation (EOP) to evaluate the influence of species, sedimentary environment, degree of burial, and water depth on the preservational process. Taphonomic signature after eight years was almost exclusively a function of location of deployment and, frequently, taphonomically-distinctive locations of deployment were subsumed within distinctive EODs. EOD-level characteristics were insufficiently discriminative to delineate environments of preservation. EOPs and EODs are not synonymous concepts. Across all sites and species, the dominant taphonomic process was discoloration. Dissolution was of penultimate importance; nevertheless the cumulative impact over eight years was insufficient to produce a significant loss in shell weight in any EOP. Maximum dissolution intensity was normally observed on the outer shell surface; the inner and outer shell surfaces are inherently different in their time course of shell deterioration. Principal components analysis (PCA) demonstrated limited co-occurrence of discrete taphonomic processes among the 24 EOPs. Breakage and edge rounding fell on the same PCA axis, but these two processes were independent of all others. PCA divided dissolution into three independent components that discriminated the inner and outer shell surface of bivalves (and spire and body whorl of gastropods) and pitting from the development of a chalky surface. Discoloration was dissembled into five distinctive discoloring processes: fading without subsequent discoloration, the development of a brown-to-red coloration, orange/orange mottled discoloration, development of a green/green mottled color, and gray-to-black discoloration. The only concordance of ostensibly distinctive taphonomic processes was the association of small pits on the shell surface with orange discoloration on the shell. Depth did not exert a single significant effect on any of the eight primary taphonomic factors resolved by PCA, likely because of burial processes. The trends in taphonomic signature cannot be explained by any simple combination of sediment type and degree of exposure. A comparison between two-year and eight-year deployments suggests that important revelations can be gleaned from short-term experimental deployments, yet the same comparison discloses the spuriousness of other inferences. Thus, long-term experiments are essential to understand the time course of preservation. The taphonomic process is, in general, slow, and nonlinearity in rates over time constrains the subset of inferences that can be deduced accurately from short deployment periods.