Evolution of predation-related characters in neogene Atlantic Coastal plain corbulids and lucinids
- UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- John Warren Huntley (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
- Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/
- Advisor
- Patricia Kelley
Abstract: The hypothesis of escalation proposes that biologic hazards, such as predation,
have increased through the Phanerozoic and that these hazards are important agents of
selection. Traits that give organisms an advantage over their enemies (predators,
competitors, and dangerous prey) should become better expressed with time. The naticid
predator-prey system is ideal for testing the hypothesis of escalation, because the
characteristic predatory drill holes made by naticid gastropods in their hard-shelled prey
produce a fossil record of predator-prey interaction. Three species from the bivalve
families Corbulidae and Lucinidae from the US Atlantic Coastal Plain ranging in age
from Miocene to Pleistocene were examined in this study. Anti-predatory related
morphologic characters (valve thickness, internal volume, and cost-benefit ratio) were
traced through the time interval studied. Valve thickness and cost-benefit ratio were
hypothesized to increase with time. Internal volume was hypothesized to decrease with
time. Three of nine predicted trends in anti-predatory morphology were confirmed.
Valve thickness increased in Caryocorbula conradi. Cost-benefit ratio increased in C.
conradi and Parvilucina crenulata. The evolution of anti-predatory traits was not
correlated with changes in drilling predation intensity nor prey effectiveness. The
evolution of anti-predatory morphology by the corbulids and lucinids may have been
outpaced by the evolution of the naticid predators. Determining causes in the evolution
of shell morphology is complicated, but the driving force of evolution is likely
attributable to selection produced by predators, primary productivity, and abiotic factors.
Evolution of predation-related characters in neogene Atlantic Coastal plain corbulids and lucinids
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
- Language: English
- Date: 2009
- Keywords
- Corbulidae--Morphology, Corbulidae--United States--Atlantic Coastal Plain, Lucinidae--Morphology, Lucinidae--United States--Atlantic Coastal Plain, Predation (Biology)
- Subjects
- Lucinidae -- United States -- Atlantic Coastal Plain
- Corbulidae -- United States -- Atlantic Coastal Plain
- Predation (Biology)
- Lucinidae -- Morphology
- Corbulidae -- Morphology