Experimental fragmentation of gastropod shells by sediment compaction: Implications for interpreting drilling predation intensities in the fossil record

Compaction is one of the taphonomic processes responsible for fragmenting invertebrate shells, thereby removing them from the fossil record. Studies of drilling predation intensities in the fossil record depend on equal preservation of drilled and undrilled shells. However, predatory drill holes may weaken shells, and these shells may be preferentially destroyed during compaction, thus overprinting predation signals in the fossil record....