Theses and Dissertations

Marvin Kunath

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Clary, Renee M.

Committee Member

Skarke, Adam D.

Committee Member

Visaggi, Christy C.

Committee Member

Phillips, George

Committee Member

Dash, Padmanava

Date of Degree

5-4-2018

Original embargo terms

Worldwide

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Geology

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Abstract

The extinct oyster Exogyra (Ostreoida: Gryphaeidae) thrived during the Cretaceous Period. The Genus was especially abundant in the southern parts of the United States, as these areas were once covered under a shallow sea. Left (lower) valves of the species Exogyra costata (Say, 1820), show different variations of the shells including differences in size and scarring of the scar remaining from the point of substrate attachment. The scars are often created by attaching to another organism, leaving an impression of it via a process called bioimmuration. This research analyses specimens from three sites within two different geological formations (Owl Creek Formation, Prairie Bluff Formation). Statistical analysis of attachment frequencies of collected specimens, as well as the analysis of the overall substrate availability reveals certain patterns of attachment, in addition to variations in lithologies of the study areas.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/17718

Comments

paleontology||Exogyra||oyster||Cretaceous||geology

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