Repair scars on Mactra violacea from the eastern coast of India: A new classification and a model for describing shell breakage on bivalves
Article number: 17.3.45A
https://doi.org/10.26879/439
Copyright Palaeontological Association, December 2014
Author biographies
Plain-language and multi-lingual abstracts
PDF version
Submission: 15 November 2013. Acceptance: 17 November 2014
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ABSTRACT
Non-lethal shell damage, which is preserved as repair scars on the bivalve shell, can be predatory or non-predatory in origin. When the peeling crabs are the main predatory groups, non-predatory damages are produced by impact from the saltating clasts or by wear and tear during burrowing. In both cases, these repair scars almost look alike, and it is difficult to identify which factor is causally responsible. Because survival of an individual is related to the severity of the shell-break irrespective of the cause, here, we have developed a classificatory scheme to categorize the repaired traces on the basis of intensity of the damage. Moreover, we have provided a model to analyze how the severity of scars can be effectively used to study species’ adaptation against shell breaking causes, by using Mactra violacea as a studied species. Individuals who survive shell breakage may adapt to escalated morphological traits to resist damage in the long term.
Subhronil Mondal. School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., NES107, Tampa, Florida 33620-5250, USA. subhronil.m@gmail.com
Subhendu Bardhan. Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032, India. sbardhan12@gmail.com
Sumanta Mallick. Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032, India. sumanta.geol87@gmail.com
Arindam Roy. Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032, India. addy.geol@gmail.com
Keywords: shell break; Indian coast; size-refuge; prey effectiveness
Final citation: Mondal, Subhronil, Bardhan, Subhendu, Mallick, Sumanta, and Roy, Arindam. 2014. Repair scars on Mactra violacea from the eastern coast of India: A new classification and a model for describing shell breakage on bivalves. Palaeontologia Electronica 17.3.45A: 1-13. https://doi.org/10.26879/439
palaeo-electronica.org/content/2014/990-repair-on-mactra-violacea
INTRODUCTION
Repaired shell breaks, called scars, indicate sub-lethal shell damage which the organism was able to repair. There are multiple causes which can create this kind of damage in modern bivalve assemblages (Zuschin et al., 2003). While abiotically-induced damage is generated by physical factors such as wear and tear during burrowing (Checa, 1993; Cadee et al., 1997; Cadee, 1999), impact by wave borne clasts (Cadee, 1999), or human activities (Ramsay et al., 2000). Biotically induced repair scars are attributed to unsuccessful attacks by the shell breaking predators (Vermeij, 1983; Vermeij and Dudley, 1985; Ebbestad and Peel, 1997; Dietl et al., 2000; Paul et al., 2013; and many others). In most cases, it is difficult to identify the taxonomic affinity of the ‘culprit’ just by looking at these scars (Kowalewski, 2002). The causes of shell breakage have been linked to the life habit of the prey. For example, the shell breaks of deep-infaunal species, which live outside the reach of potential shell-breaking predators, are thought to be non-predatory in origin (Checa, 1993; Alexander and Dietl, 2001, 2005). Although this assumption is safe for deep-infaunal bivalves, the cause of scarring is difficult to interpret for epifaunal, shallow and semi-infaunal bivalves, which can suffer shell breaks by both predation and physical factors (see Ausich and Gurrola, 1979 for an example). Moreover, these two types of scars often have indistinguishable morphologies. For example, non-predatory arcuate or angular types of scars are similar to predatory scalloped type. Due to this apparent similarity, some authors, in fact, have synonymized some of these terminologies (Alexander and Dietl, 2001, 2003; Dietl, 2003, 2004). In addition, the classification schemes are often subjective and difficult to quantify. Under these circumstances, attempt of classification of repaired traces based on their causes will only “distract us from the real strength of trace fossils” (Kowalewski, 2002). Irrespective of the cause (i.e., abiotic or biotic) these breaks will affect survival during subsequent encounters with enemies and the environment (see Kowalewski, 2002). Survival may enhance the chances of reproduction of the individuals of the species and contribute to the adaptation against shell breaks in the long run (Vermeij, 1982).
Here, we have studied scars on a shallow-burrowing bivalve, Mactra violacea Gmelin, 1791, from the Indian coast, and have demonstrated that our studied species showed signatures of both the predatory and non-predatory scars on them (i.e., heterogeneity of scars). We have argued that it is not required to classify scars based on their origin. Rather, it is important to focus on the severity of scars and correlate those with the survival of inflicted bivalves (see Mondal et al., 2010a for similar approach). In line with that, we have introduced a new classification system of scars based on their severity irrespective of their cause. In fossil record, when this type of heterogeneity of scars is encountered, we can use our new classificatory scheme to study the adaptation of a species against shell-scarring agents.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The Opportunity
Chandipur, located on the eastern coast of India (21°30’N, 86°54’E), has a vast expanse of tidal flat within an estuary-bar complex (Figure 1). A diverse assemblage of predators and prey inhabit this area (Mondal et al., 2010b; Das et al., 2014). The bivalve community is represented mostly by the genus Mactra. Mactra violacea is generally less abundant and found sporadically as disarticulated shells (mostly adults) along the beach and the tidal flat. This species is large and is shallow burrower (i.e., the distance between sediment-water interface and the posterior end of the buried shell is not great), living in the intertidal to sub-tidal muddy-shaly sand flats in Chandipur (Rao et al., 1991, 1992). However, in a recent study from other parts of India, it was observed that adult M. violacea lives in the surf zone, which is frequently disturbed by the tidal waves (Laxmilatha et al., 2010). M. Violacea burrows a considerable depth (the adult length may exceed 8.5 cm.) to make it fully infaunal and for this reason may be alternatively considered as a deep burrowing bivalve (cf. Stanley, 1970; Ingole, 2002; Laxmilatha et al., 2010). However, the individuals in Chandipur do not live far away from the sediment-water interface. Two lines of evidence further support our observation. First, the shells are occasionally found with drillholes made by naticid gastropods which hunt only within shallow sediments. Second, M. violacea has quite large and thick shell, which is related to shallow depth of burial (Stanley, 1970, figure 30). Shallow burrower bivalves evolved thicker shell to avoid boring gastropods and physical shell breakage (Carter, 1968; Stanley, 1970). M. violacea has smooth shells, although in some specimens faint divaricate-like ribs seem to appear near the venter (personal observation). A thick periostracum layer is present over the shell. M. violacea has a slit-like anterior and an oval posterior gape (Figure 2). In Chandipur, the species generally shows low frequency of drilling predation with respect to other species of Mactra (see Mondal et al., 2010b; personal observation). Present specimens, however, have extensive scars on them (Figure 2, Figure 3).
During July-August (2009), a strong monsoonal cyclone, named locally as ‘Aila’ in India, exhumed a vast assemblage of M. violacea at Chandipur from its intertidal and subtidal habitats (Ingole, 2002) and was brought on to the beach. Tens of hundreds of adult M. violacea were washed ashore along the highest water marks (near backshore-aeolian dune transition). This provided a rare opportunity to study a population of M. violacea, which are relatively rare through the seasons in the beach. This taphonomic assemblage (Taphonomoic Grade I, Flessa et al., 1993) was almost monotypically composed of M. violacea. Most of the shells were articulated, and even retained ligament and periostracum on them. A total of 533 articulated shells (antero-posterior length varies from 30 mm to 85 mm) were collected systematically through five grids (1m X 1m), which were aligned parallel to the beach every 50 m. Younger specimens (antero-posterior length < 20 mm) were also collected from outside the grid to document ontogenetic changes of morphological traits, as well as shell repair data.
Probable Origin of Scars
In life orientation, the sagittal plane of M. violacea remains vertical with the posterior part of the shell being close to the sediment-water interface. Because of the presence of the prominent gape at the posterior, predator-induced scars are likely to be concentrated along this region (Alexander and Dietl, 2001; Boulding, 1984). In addition, if the scars are mirror-image on both valves, it is another strong indicator of predation (Leighton, 2001). Another most common feature in support of predation is size refuge, i.e., whether shell breaks are restricted to any particular size class or not (Leighton, 2001). Since predators tend to attack a preferred prey size (i.e., size selectivity), predatory attacks seem to concentrate at a particular size class of the prey (Leighton, 2001). Alternatively, if damage was mostly non-predatory, we should find shell breaks throughout the ontogeny of the species. Distribution of scars on the prey shell in that case, however, will be higher at smaller individuals under the same physical influences. For this, documentation of ontogenetic distribution of scars is required.
In order to document size refuge of scars, we have measured length (anterior-posterior elongation) of the dead shells and length of the shells at the age when the scars were produced (Figure 4). These have been treated as ‘length at death’ and ‘length at scar’, respectively (see Alexander and Dietl, 2001). Skewness of size-frequency distributions of these two measurements was compared by means of a statistical t-test (Figure 4; see also Alexander and Dietl, 2001) to see whether scars are restricted to a particular size class or not. To document whether scars are distributed throughout the shell or are locally concentrated on a particular location of the shell (site-specificity), valves have been divided into four distinct sectors/grids (Figure 4) and numbers of scars on these locations were recorded. If the length of a scar stretches from the antero-venter to the postero-venter, and thus covers the whole venter (Figure 3.4), we counted this as four scars, one in each sector (see Mondal and Herbert, 2012). In doing so, a single scar may be represented as a maximum of four separate scars at four locations, which might increase true number of scars on the species, but will represent the damaged locations of the shell. Otherwise, an entirely broken venter and a small scalloped breakage will be weighted the same, which will not separate scars based on their severity. Chi-square goodness of fit test was performed to see whether scars are randomly distributed to the shells or not, with α = 0.05. It should be noted that, for the present case, in most individuals, scars are present as mirror images on both valves, without showing any valve preference (Figure 2.1, 2.3). For this reason, either of the two valves (left or right, no bias) of the articulated specimens was studied for the location of scars.
The Proposed Classification Scheme
Based on their severity, repair scars were categorized under three groups: Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III (Table 1; Figure 3). These categories are gradational. Grade I is the most severe one because it inflicts damage to the soft parts, which may be exposed to bacteria, parasites, and predators (Vermeij, 1983, 1987; Dietl and Alexander, 2005). It also includes very large-sized scars-embayed and cleft type scars of predatory origin, by Alexander and Dietl (2001); and creases and arcuate-angular type of scars of non-predatory origin by Checa (1993). A scar with elongation greater than or equal to 50% of body length (here antero-posterior length) and/or a depth (from venter towards umbo) of greater than or equal to 30% of the shell height (here distance of umbo from ventral commissure) is considered as Grade IA. Soft part damage (identified externally or internally by shell distortion, or offset in growth lines or double wall) is considered as Grade IB.
Grade II is less severe than Grade I. Grade II includes scars which cover 5-50% of body length and/or depth between 5-30% of shell height (Table 1). It does not inflict any soft part damage, but a large portion of the shell is chipped away. It includes scalloped and divoted type of scar of predatory origin (Alexander and Dietl, 2001) and horseshoe type of non-predatory scars (Checa, 1993).
Grade III is the least severe type of damage, which indicates a very small break or removal of small slivers of the shell (<5% of length and height; Table 1). It includes scalloped (Dietl and Alexander, 2005) and arcuate-angular type (Checa, 1993) scars. Chi-square goodness of fit test was performed to see whether all grades of scars are equally common on the shells or not.
Species' Adaptive Responses against Breaks
Shell morphologies were studied to correlate them with the scars. Shell convexity and thickness near the ventral commissure were studied as proxy of the shell strength (Alexander and Dietl, 2003). Valve convexity was measured as ventral angles at several ontogenetic stages. Shell thickness at venter was calculated using digital slide calipers (0.01 precision). Depth of pallial sinus was calculated for different growth stages in order to examine the relative change in burrowing depth with age (Stanley, 1970). In general, a thicker shell is more resistant against shell break; less convex valves are helpful for rapid burrowing, and deep infaunal forms are less likely to be attacked by the predators.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Probable Origin of Scars
Scars are non-randomly distributed on the bivalve shells (X²=97.062, p << 0.01) with 9.52% of the scars located on the anterior part of the shell (near the anterior gape; location 1 in Figure 4) and 22.4% of the scars found within the posterior part (near the posterior gape, location 4). The venter (location 2 and 3 together) has as many as 243 scars (68.06%). Out of these ventrally-located scars, 163 (45.66%) are located in the postero-ventral location (i.e., location 3).
When frequencies of ‘length at death’ and ‘length at scar’ are plotted (Figure 5), the length at death distribution showed positive skewness (right), and the length at scar distribution showed negative (left) skewness.The difference between mean size of length at death (65.55 mm) and length at incidence of scars (31.73 mm) is significant (t-test, p < 0.01). Apparently, no size refuge is observed (see Figure 5), suggesting that shell breakage continued throughout the whole ontogeny of the individual. For this reason, it is thought that the cause is non-predatory. However, low intensities of scars on the relatively larger shells (i.e., length> 50 mm) may be the result of attacks by certain group of predator(s) who only attack the larger individuals.
Further support of non-predatory origin of scars include retention of broken chips at the damaged area (Figure 2.5-7), which is not the characteristic feature of peeling predation (e.g., crabs) and is more characteristic of abiotic damage (Checa, 1993). Periostracum and/or any other organic matrix help to retain these broken chips. The other evidence is that M. violacea is a shallow burrower with a permanent posterior gape. If the epifaunal predatory peeling crabs were the culprits, the scars will be mostly restricted at the posterior part of the shell; for prey with a posterior gape will be broken from the gape (see Boulding, 1984). Contrary to this, we have found only 22.4% of scars at the posterior part. The presence of the maximum number of scars at the ventral part of the shell might have been produced during burrowing (Checa, 1993; Alexander and Dietl, 2001); however we did not find any live individual of the species to test that hypothesis. Other evidence in favor of abiotic origin of scars is that some shells show characteristic non-predatory post-mortem cracks (from venter towards umbo) at the vicinity of boulders in the beach (pers. obs.), further implying that the non-predatory shell-breaking agents could have interacted while the individuals were still alive. Moreover, the studied area suffers from extensive anthropogenic activities (i.e., fishing, trawling, dredging, and trampling), which might cause physical breakage (Ramsay et al., 2000, 2001).
However, many of the individuals show signs of predatory origin of the scars. As mentioned earlier, the high concentration of scars at the posterior part relative to the anterior of infaunal bivalves is a probable indicator of predatory origin (Alexander and Dietl, 2001). Other evidences in support of the possible predatory origin are: (1) severe soft tissue damage, which create shell distortion, growth line discontinuity, abnormal shell growth, absence of ornamentation, and permanent failure of complete repairing (Figure 2.4-5, Figure 3.5-10); (2) scars are present as mirror images on both valves (Leighton, 2001). The other evidences are the morphology of the scars themselves. As reported by many paleontological and neontological studies (Vermeij, 1982; Alexander and Dietl, 2001; Paul et al., 2013; Mondal et al., 2014b), peeling predators use their claws to chip away small portion of the shell during feeding (Vermeij, 1977; Zipser and Vermeij, 1978; Seed and Hughes, 1995; Sanford et al., 2003). As a consequence, biotically produced repair scars, similar to which have been documented here, are not parallel to the growth lines and show zigzag pattern of break (Figure 2, Figure 3). The other evidence which further supports the biotic origin of these scars is that the majority of scars are concentrated at earlier ontogeny, which might indicate a case of size-refuge (Figure 5) related to predation (Leighton, 2001). Chandipur has diverse groups of durophagous predators, including crabs (see Mondal et al., 2010b for references), which might be responsible for this jagged scars (Vermeij, 1982; Boulding, 1984). Other probable predators are the Busyconinae gastropods, which may chip the shell margin away during feeding (see Dietl, 2004). All these potential factors suggest a mixed mode of breakage for M. violacea. The exact proportion of predatory to non-predatory damage is difficult to count, but it indicates a clear heterogeneity of shell damage, including both the predatory and non-predatory types.
Severity of Scars and Related Adaptations
Grade III is the most common type of scar (almost 60%), while Grade II scar is relatively infrequent (22%) and Grade I scar is rare (<18%) (X² =137.412, p << 0.01). Soft tissue damage is also very rare (only 11 out of 533 scars, Table 2). Table 2 also suggests that scars of different grades are not site specific; they may be present anywhere on the shell.
The species shows high frequency of less severe scars (Grade III), which indicates the species’ effectiveness against shell breaking agents (Table 2) and high repairability (Alexander and Dietl, 2001; Mondal et al., 2010a) against sublethal breaks. This enhances an individual’s survival and longevity even it suffers maximum damage at early ontogeny (Figure 4). If breakage is severe (i.e., Grade I and II), it would have decreased the probability of survival of individuals and the length at death would have been restricted at the early ontogeny (where scars were concentrated) (see the section ‘A Model’ below). Moreover, depth of pallial sinus, shell thickness, and the ventral angle (as an indicator of shell convexity) show ontogenetic increase (Figure 6). M. violacea has a large and relatively thick shell, which increases shell strength against breaking irrespective of the agent. All these are indicative of breakage-resistant adaptations of the species.
A MODEL
It now appears that various abiotic processes can result in shell breaks that can be very similar in morphology with breaks produced by the shell-breaking predators (Alexander and Dietl, 2001, 2003; Dietl, 2003, 2004; see also Kowalewski, 2002). Even more, different predators can produce similar type of breakage (Kowalewski, 2002), and members of the same species of predator can produce morphologically variable traces (e.g., Bromley, 1970; Zipser and Vermeij, 1978; Alexander, 1986; Dietl and Kelley, 2006; Kowalewski et al., 1997; Grey et al., 2005; Morton, 2005; Dietl and Kelley, 2006; Grey et al., 2007; Mondal et al., 2014a). As a consequence, misidentification of the cause of those scars can overestimate or underestimate predation frequencies of any prey species (Mondal et al., 2014b). As Kowalewski (2002) has pointed out, identification of causes of scarring is not always required, because “...such identification efforts can only distract us from the real strength of trace fossils” (p. 10). Whatever might be the cause, severity of scars will determine an individual’s long-term survival and subsequent adaptation.
Alexander and Dietl (2001) came up with a unique way of using the frequency distribution of length of scars in relation with the frequency distribution of length at death, so that, when compared, these two distributions (their figure 1) can be used as a measure of species’ adaptive capability, which they called as ‘repairability’ (see also Mondal et al., 2010a). Although envisaged, no attempt was made so far for its testability. Here, we have made an attempt to show that these two frequency distributions can be used as an indicator of species’ adaptation against shell breaks.
In order to clarify our understanding, a hypothetical schematic figure has been proposed (Figure 7). The figure represents a model of frequency distribution of length at the incidence of scarring (L scar) versus the frequency distribution of length at death (L death ) for three hypothetical time intervals, with phase I being the oldest (Figure 7). Here, the L death represents distribution of length of all collected specimens, and the L scar indicates the length when the individuals suffered breakage (e.g., the vulnerable growth stage of the species), irrespective of the agent of breakage involved. In addition, the figure shows which types of scars (Grade I, II, or III in our nomenclature) are most frequent at different intervals of time (see below). These three hypothetical time intervals are the phases of species’ adaptation against shell breaking agents and may have evolutionary consequences (escalation, sensu Vermeij, 1987; see also Vermeij, 1982). Species-specific examples from Alexander and Dietl (2001; reproduced here in the right column of Figure 7), along with our present data, have been compared with these three phases. In this way, these three hypothetical time intervals can be considered as successive snapshots of species’ adaptation at three time phases. The main goal is to show how a species with most of the breakage concentrated at the early ontogeny will try to adapt against shell-breaking causes and then how it affects survivorship of the species. The assumption that most of the scars are concentrated at the early ontogeny in our hypothetical figures is logical, because, with attainment of larger size and thicker shells, the individuals will be more resistant against either biotic or abiotic shell breaks. Many studies also confirm this type of distribution of L scar for bivalves (see Alexander and Dietl, 2001 for numerous examples).
Phase I is the earliest phase of adaptation, where the most severe type of breaks (Grade I) dominates (Figure 7). If shell breaking causes mortality at early ontogeny, we should expect more dead specimens at that ontogeny. In this case, the L death should have a left tail overlapping the distribution of L scars (Figure 5, Phase I in Figure 7, see also Alexander and Dietl, 2001), and the long-term survival and reproduction of the species will be difficult. In contrast, if breaks are not causing significant death, all these individuals carrying scars will survive up to the older ages. In that case, distributions of L scars and L death will have no or low overlap (Phase III in Figure 7). In order to reduce this juvenile loss, the species will attain a size refuge identified by an increased separation of the distributions of L scars and L death with time (from Phase I onwards in Figure 7). Such a separation can be achieved by increasing growth rate in order to reduce early ontogeny and exposure time to shell-damaging agents during this vulnerable age. Otherwise, shell thickness or shell ornamentation would increase without reducing the overlap between L scars and L death distributions. Individuals with these traits would have more chances of survival and eventually reproduce more. This may ensure adaptive changes in the future species population (Vermeij, 1982). In that case, the species, in the long run, will have less frequent severe damages (Phase III in Figure 7).
Similar adaptation can be identified in many bivalve species (Figure 7; see also figures in Alexander and Dietl, 2001). In all of the examples of Alexander and Dietl (2001), frequency distributions of L scars and L death, shell breaks are mostly shifted towards the early part of ontogeny. Some of the species have distinct L scars and L death distributions (for example, Ensis directus, Mya arenaria; see 7.1-3, Phase III in our Figure 7), while other species have strongly overlapping L scars and L death distributions (for example, for Anadara ovalis, Mercenaria mercenaria, etc.; see Phase I and II in our Figure 7). Most of these species have thick shells, which imply better adaptation against shell damage even when there is high chance of early death by shell breaks. In order to maximize survival by reducing lethal breaks (i.e., Grade I) at the early ontogeny, the different bivalve taxa showed different adaptations. If those adaptations (escalation) involve size refuge from lethal shell breaks at the early ontogeny, the distribution of L scars will be similar to Phase III in Figure 7 (also see Figure 5), which will eventually determine an individual’s long-term survival. According to Vermeij (1982), when some of these individuals survive sub-lethal attacks and reproduce, those adaptations will be favored by natural selection over individuals who do not have anti-breaking adaptations. In the evolutionary time scale, such traits will propagate among the population/species (Vermeij, 1982).
In the present study, for M. violacea, we have observed that the L scars and L death distributions overlap (Figure 5), but show ontogenetic increase in shell thickness (Figure 6). It is possible that ontogenetic increase in thickness might increase the repair scar frequency with increasing size since thicker shells would be more likely to survive attack and become more resistant to damage. In addition, the present species becomes relatively deeper burrower during ontogeny as evident from relative increase of depth of pallial sinus. This further reduces the chance of encountering shell breaking predators, saltating clasts, or other causes of breakage. This adaptive success is coincident with the high frequency of very low grade, less severe damage on it (Table 2). All of these escalated morphological traits have enabled M. violacea to live longer and achieve a larger body size.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We express our sincere thanks to A. Kayal, M. Kayal, and R. Mitra for their cooperation in the fieldwork. S.M. acknowledges G. Herbert (University of South Florida) and two anonymous reviewers for valuable suggestions.The language of the manuscript is greatly improved by the careful proofreading by G. Brown (University of South Florida). S.B. acknowledges partial support from CAS of Department of Geological Sciences; DST-PURSE and UPE II of Jadavpur University. S. Mallick acknowledges the grant for field work funded by UGC.
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