ONSET AND FORMATION OF BONEBEDS: INVESTIGATING THE TAPHONOMIC PROCESSES OF A MASS FISH KILL IN GRAND LAKE ST. MARY, MERCER COUNTY, OHIO

Bonebed formations are accumulations of vertebrate material found within both consolidated and unconsolidated sedimentary deposits. Bonebeds provide crucial insights into paleo-ecological events and the environmental conditions that led to their creation. Extensive research has been performed on established bonebeds; however, very little research has been conducted on the inception of bonebeds. This study aims to explore the early stages of a bonebed assemblage, resultant of a historical mass fish kill in Grand Lake St. Mary, Mercer County, Ohio. We will investigate cores sampled from multiple locations around the lake's perimeter to identify the stratigraphic signature and early taphonomic processes involved in the creation of the bonebed. Special attention will be given to the critical stratigraphical interval in which fish remains begin to accumulate and concentrate. To assess this layer, we will employ a multi-method approach, including thin section analysis to observe depositional textures and mass sampling to quantify the ratio of bone clasts to background matrix. This will allow for a detailed understanding of the spatial and temporal aspects of bonebed formation, with particular focus on the processes that facilitate the rapid accumulation of fish remains in the aftermath of a mass mortality event. By examining these early stages of bonebed genesis, we aim to enhance our understanding of taphonomic processes, ecological disturbances, and the preservation potential of bone clasts in freshwater environments. The results will provide critical insight into the dynamics of bonebed formation and the conditions under which mass kills can contribute to the creation of long-lasting paleontological records.