Effect of a large larval settlement and catastrophic mortality on the ecologic record of the community in the death assemblage

摘要: Abstract The death assemblage is an important source of data on the living community prior to sampling and between occasions. Proper use these requires a knowledge how assemblages form from communities. A large larval settlement catastrophic mortality clam Mulinia lateralis provided opportunity test several hypotheses about formation. Individuals M. were added in pulses resulting episodic mortality, but each pulse rapidly disappeared—half shells gone 192 days. This loss was size-dependent; smaller disappeared at over twice rate larger shells. size-frequency distribution for bi-modal because simultaneous two cohorts different size frequencies. present new had been locally redistributed by physical processes after death. We hypothesize that are preserved preferentially they remain longer, and, thus, have greater chance being physically reworked beneath taphonomically-active surface zone storms. Consequently, provide distinct types data; recent recruitment process decay, longer-term events accumulation remains buried indefinitely preserved.