Biometric analysis of scaphopods of the Pleistocene Palos Verdes Formation and their indications of environmental change and sediment petrology

Event Center A & B

Biometric measurements of a total sample of forty scaphopod specimens (Phylum Molluska) from the Pleistocene Palos Verdes Formation indicate that scaphopods grew incrementally and their growth patterns may have significant paleoecological value. Several specimens were mounted and ground both parallel and perpendicular to the shell axis in order to analyze their growth patterns which had never been described. Prismatic calcareous crystals formed significant growth layers that can be counted similar to dendrochronological rings. Two specimens exhibit growth rings partitioning the conch into vertical chambers. In both specimens that partition occurred at the third internal growth ring.