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Latitudinal Variation in Drilling Predation in Prehistoric Fossils

Explore predator-prey relationships in 40 million-year-old fossils from South Carolina to understand drilling predation variation. Acknowledging support from Dr. Laws and Dr. Kelley, we aim to compare drilling frequencies and prey selectivity in different geographical locations. Our study is based on previous research by Vermeij and Kelley & Hansen and aims to fill gaps in the fossil record. We will analyze drilling frequencies of Turritellid snails and other species, measure prey characteristics, and test hypotheses related to predation patterns. Join us in uncovering ancient predator behaviors!

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Latitudinal Variation in Drilling Predation in Prehistoric Fossils

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  1. UNCW Undergraduate Research Fellowship Proposal Patti Mason, April 22, 2005 Predator/prey relationships in 40 million year old fossils from South Carolina: Latitudinal variation in drilling predation and selectivity of prey drill-hole site and prey species Acknowledgments: Thanks to Dr. Richard A. Laws and Dr. Patricia H. Kelley for their assistance and support

  2. Background • Escalation (Vermeij, 1987) : states that biohazards, such as predation and/or competition increase through geologic time • Vermeij looked at the fossil record of predatory snails for evidence of escalation. • Predatory naticids (snails) move within the sediment to find prey and then drill through the shell and ingest the prey tissue. Predatory Naticid (w/ drill hole) Bivalve Prey

  3. Kelley and Hansen surveyed 143,000 fossil molluscs from 28 geologic formations. They found: • + correlations with: • Species diversity • % Naticids • % Preferred Prey Courtesy Kelley & Hansen, 2003 • The data showed a rising and falling of drilling frequency instead of a consistent rise, perhaps related to mass extinctions.

  4. Justification • We have data from Virginia and North Carolina to the Gulf Coast states. • Data from South Carolina will help fill in the gaps! Drilling Frequencies: Turritellid snails vs all snail species

  5. Fig. 1. Orangeburg Group (Nystrom et al, 1989) • Return bulk sample of fossils to lab for study. • Tabulate location and frequency of drill holes (Drill hole frequency = % individuals with complete naticid drill-holes). • Measure common prey species for size, shell thickness, and internal volume for cost-benefit calculations, and any drill holes documented. • Test my hypotheses. Methods

  6. Research Hypotheses • Drilling frequencies between those for Virginia and the Gulf Coast • Drill site and prey selection will be more pronounced than older assemblages • Naticid predation in South Carolina predicted by cost-benefit analysis • Drilling frequencies similar to those of equivalent fossil assemblages • % of naticids present proportional to drilling frequency • % of preferred prey proportional to drilling frequency Thank You

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