I have heard that these storm--related events are due to the surf
litterally digging the shells out of the sand.  This would not be true for
scallops whioch live on the surface of the ocean floor but that does not
mean that a storm would not create heavy surf which would toss shells
ashore.  Here in Maine cold weather, an offshore wind and a particularly
low tide can also create mass mortality of certain sand-dwelling shells.
The same conditions with a heavy rain seems also to shock the animals and
result in them being tossed ashore - things like Spisula solidissima  and
Placopecten  magellanicus.
 
Beth DeHaas
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----------
> From: Rick Harbo <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Mass mortalities of mollusks
> Date: Monday, September 28, 1998 11:50 AM
>
> At the north beaches of Queen Charlotte Islands, live weathervane
scallops,
> _Patinopecten caurinus_ are washed ashore , between Oct-Mar, following
storm
> events. On average 7,000 scallops (most 200 to 280 mm; few less than 120
mm
> shell height) wash up annually, and the locals pick them up quickly from
the
> beach! Many houses and gardens are decorated with the large shells.
>
> It is unknown why they wash up. Does this happen to scallops in other
regions?
>
> Rick Harbo
> Nanaimo, B.C. Canada
>
>
>
> At 02:14 PM 25/09/98 -0500, you wrote:
> >In the "Winterized Mollusks" thread, Paul Monfils cites some interesting
> >observations on mass mortality (death) of mollusks, which can often be
of
> >particular species. I'd like to hear from people who have witnessed such
> >events, on land, sea, or freshwater. What species were involved in the
mass
> >mortality? What was the cause of death, if known? In what season or
month
> >did this occur?
> >
> >Andrew K. Rindsberg
> >Geological Survey of Alabama
> >Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
> >
> >