Taphonomic bias and time-averaging in tropical molluscan death assemblages: differential shelf half-lives in Great Barrier Reef sediments

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dc.contributor.authorKosnik, MAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHua, Qen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKaufman, DSen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWust, RAen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2010-04-06T05:57:17Zen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2010-04-30T05:07:48Zen_AU
dc.date.available2010-04-06T05:57:17Zen_AU
dc.date.available2010-04-30T05:07:48Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2009-11en_AU
dc.date.statistics2009-11en_AU
dc.description.abstractRadiocarbon-calibrated amino acid racemization ages of 428 individually dated shells representing four molluscan taxa are used to quantify time-averaging and shell half-lives with increasing burial depth in the shallow-water carbonate lagoon of Rib Reef, central Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The top 20 cm of sediment contains a distinct, essentially modern assemblage. Shells recovered at depths from 25 to 125 cm are age-homogeneous and significantly older than the surface layer. Taxon age distributions within sedimentary layers indicate that the top 125 cm of lagoonal sediment is thoroughly mixed on a sub-century scale. The age distributions and shell half-lives of four taxa (Ethalia, Natica, Tellina, and Turbo) are found to be largely distinct. Shell half-lives do not coincide with any single morphological characteristic thought to infer greater durability, but they are strongly related to a combined durability score based on shell density, thickness, and shape. These results illustrate the importance of bioturbation in tropical sedimentary environments, indicate that age estimates in this depositional setting are sensitive to taxon choice, and quantify a taxon-dependent bias in shell longevity and death assemblage formation. © 2009, The Paleontological Societyen_AU
dc.identifier.citationKosnik, M. A., Hua, Q., Kaufman, D. S., & Wust, R. A. (2009). Taphonomic bias and time-averaging in tropical molluscan death assemblages: differential shell half-lives in Great Barrier Reef sediment. Paleobiology, 35(4), 565-586. doi:10.1666/0094-8373-35.4.565en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc1502en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0094-8373en_AU
dc.identifier.issue4en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitlePaleobiologyen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination565-586en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1666/0094-8373-35.4.565en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/3049en_AU
dc.identifier.volume35en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherThe Paleontological Societyen_AU
dc.subjectReefsen_AU
dc.subjectShellsen_AU
dc.subjectHalf-lifeen_AU
dc.subjectSedimentsen_AU
dc.subjectIsotope datingen_AU
dc.subjectAmino acidsen_AU
dc.titleTaphonomic bias and time-averaging in tropical molluscan death assemblages: differential shelf half-lives in Great Barrier Reef sedimentsen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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