INVESTIGADORES
CASADIO Silvio Alberto
artículos
Título:
Byssal attachment etchings: A new bioerosion trace on recent oysters
Autor/es:
ROMERO, M. V.; BREZINA, S.; BREMEC, C.; CASADÍO, S.
Revista:
ICHNOS-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PLANT AND ANIMAL TRACES
Editorial:
TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
Referencias:
Lugar: Londres; Año: 2013 vol. 20 p. 157 - 163
ISSN:
1042-0940
Resumen:
Byssate bivalves can be attached to hard substrates by byssal
threads. Dissolution of the substrate to which they are attached
may leave superficial bioerosion traces. This study reports the
scars produced by byssus of Mytilus edulis and Aulacomya atra
recorded in shells of Ostrea puelchana. Oyster valves were cut and
gold-sputtered prior to scanning electron microscope observation.
Each byssal thread leaves a characteristic scar on shells substrate.
They etch an irregular trace on the substrate which may reach
a diameter of several centimeters. These etching-traces comprise
shallow round/oval holes of variable number and placement. A
bundle of pits corresponding to fibers that compose the thread core
was identified in the interior of each hole.We suggest that this trace
could be included in the ethological class Fixichnia. The description
of this trace would allow adjusting the composition of fossil
assemblages and therefore paleoenvironmental interpretations in
those cases in which mytilid shells have not been preserved. The
recognition of this trace along with other ones of tracemakers
with reotaxis or positive phototaxis could be useful in inferring
the life habit of fossil biogenic substrates and in reconstructing
their taphonomic history.