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MASS-MORTALITY LAYERS OF FOSSIL STICKLEBACK FISH: CATASTROPHIC KILLS OF POLYMORPHIC SCHOOLS.

Michael A Bell¹, Christina E Wells¹, James A Marshall¹

¹Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, 11794.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution

|June 2, 2017

Summary

Fossil stickleback fish (Gasterosteus doryssus) in mass-mortality layers offer valuable population samples. Time-averaged fossil samples are comparable to living populations for some traits but require cautious interpretation for correlations.

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Area of Science:

Paleontology
Ichthyology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Abundant and well-preserved stickleback fish (Gasterosteus doryssus) fossils from the Miocene Truckee Formation provide insights into ancient populations.
Fossils are found in mass-mortality layers, representing high-density occurrences on single annual laminations (varves).

Purpose of the Study:

To determine if stickleback mass-mortality layers can serve as reliable population samples.
To compare the utility of mass-mortality samples versus time-averaged fossil samples for evolutionary studies.

Main Methods:

Analysis of Gasterosteus doryssus fossils from Miocene lacustrine deposits in Nevada.
Comparison of character variation and correlations between mass-mortality samples and time-averaged samples.
Comparison of fossil sample data with characteristics of living G. doryssus populations.

Main Results:

Stickleback mass-mortality layers represent members of schools and can be used as population samples.
Time-averaged fossil samples are acceptable surrogates for instantaneous population samples for some purposes.
Character variances in time-averaged G. doryssus samples are comparable to living populations, but character correlations may differ.

Conclusions:

Mass-mortality layers offer valuable insights into ancient fish populations.
Time-averaged fossil samples require careful evaluation for character correlations due to potential differences from instantaneous samples.
Interpreting character variances and correlations in time-averaged fossil samples necessitates a case-by-case approach.