Abstract Trace densities may be a potential proxy for tracemaker densities, especially in settings where traces but not body fossils preserve well. The relationship between the density of the gastropod Batillaria minima and its trails was examined in a modern muddy intertidal zone of a lagoon on San Salvador Island, the Bahamas. The number of snails found within a quadrat was a moderately positive predictor of the number of trails that crossed the quadrat’s boundaries. This suggests in some modern ecological systems, trace density is a reasonable proxy for tracemaker density. However, in some cases, high densities of snails are found without correspondingly high trail densities, which may be driven by the snails clumping or moving little, perhaps to access shared resources. Observations of tagging individual snails and speed measurements also suggest that B. minima disperses around this type of mudflat habitat a few tens of centimeters a day.

中文翻译：

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示踪密度是否反映示踪剂密度？在巴哈马圣萨尔瓦多岛上使用潮间带腹足类动物进行的测试

摘要 痕迹密度可能是示踪剂密度的潜在代表，尤其是在痕迹而不是身体化石保存良好的环境中。在巴哈马圣萨尔瓦多岛泻湖的现代泥泞潮间带中，研究了腹足动物 Batillaria minima 的密度与其踪迹之间的关系。在一个样方内发现的蜗牛数量是跨越该样方边界的小径数量的适度正预测因子。这表明在一些现代生态系统中，痕量密度是示踪剂密度的合理代表。然而，在某些情况下，发现高密度的蜗牛而没有相应高的尾迹密度，这可能是由蜗牛聚集或移动很少，可能是为了获取共享资源而驱动的。