Date of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Academic Program

Biological Sciences BS

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Alyson Brink

Advisor Department

Geography and Geology

Abstract

This study examines the taphonomy and preservation of Eufistulana mumia, a boring bivalve, within the Owl Creek Formation of northeastern Mississippi. The formation was deposited in a shallow marine environment of Maastrichtian age within the Mississippi Embayment. A total of 66 specimens were collected from exposures within the formation and analyzed to evaluate morphometric variation and orientation patterns. Field measurements of trend and plunge of each specimen were recorded in situ using a geological compass, and specimens were later prepared and measured in the laboratory with digital calipers. Morphometric results show consistent tube morphology, with basal widths larger than distal widths, while variation in preserved tube length reflects fragmentation. Orientation data show greater variability than expected for organisms that were originally bored in vertical positions. This suggests that post-depositional processes, such as sediment compaction and minor reworking, altered the preserved orientations. Despite this, the assemblage likely represents an in situ benthic community within a shallow marine environment. These results demonstrate that both biological behavior and taphonomic processes must be considered when interpreting fossil distributions in marine systems.

Download

Included in

Paleontology Commons

Share

COinS