Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand

Coastal Dune Ecosystem Reference Database

A recent, possible catastrophic burial in a marine molluscan community Journal Paper

Author
McKnight D.G.
Year
1969
Journal / Source
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research
Publisher / Organisation
Taylor & Francis
Number
3
Pages
177-179
ISBN / ISSN
1175-8805
Keywords
Coromandel, mud, burial, mollusc, Kennedy Bay, Tawera spissa
Summary
A shallow water benthic sample from off the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula contained compact shelly sand overlain by mud. The fauna, confined to the sand layer, consisted of infaunal bivalves dominated by Tawera spissa (Deshayes). The presence of dead or decaying bivalves only, indicates a heavy mortality in the community attributed to burial by the mud layer.