Effect of Carcass Size on Rate of Decomposition and Arthropod Succession Patterns

Hewadikaram, Kamani; Goff, M. Lee

doi:10.1097/00000433-199109000-00013

Cited by 131 publications

(70 citation statements)

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“…The variation between years could be attributed to differences in resource size (Braack 1987) or priority effects of initial colonizers altering subsequent community structure (Chase 2010, Fukami andNakajima 2011). However, while differences in taxon richness occurred between years, it has been reported that carcass size does not influence insect arrival patterns (Hewadikaram and Goff 1991). Once insect exclusion carcasses were exposed for insect access after five days, they attracted a different insect community.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delayed insect access alters carrion decomposition and necrophagous insect community assembly

et al. 2014

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Abstract. Vertebrate carrion in terrestrial ecosystems is an unpredictable, ephemeral resource pulse that contributes to local biodiversity and nutrient transformation dynamics. Carrion ecology is infrequently studied compared to other decomposition systems, such as leaf litter detritus, despite its importance as a resource subsidy in most ecosystems. We hypothesized that delayed insect access to carrion (insects excluded for five days) would demonstrate marked shifts in necrophagous insect community structure, turnover rates and assembly with overall effects on carrion decomposition. Despite similarities between taxon arrival patterns, once insects were allowed to colonize carrion previously excluded from insects there was an increased necrophagous insect taxon richness and increased community turnover rates. Additionally, during the first five days of decomposition, insect exclusion carcasses remained in bloat stage while those naturally colonized were well advanced in active decomposition. This resulted in substantial differences in decomposition and highlighted the importance of insect community assembly in the decomposition process. Carrion decomposition has been a neglected field of study compared to other organic matter processes (e.g., leaf detritus), and these data suggest the ecology of carrion-arthropod interactions can contribute to a broader understanding of decomposition processes and ecosystem function.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delayed insect access alters carrion decomposition and necrophagous insect community assembly

et al. 2014

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“…As a body decomposes it progresses through specific stages in a patterned fashion the nature of which depends upon the location of the remains. In cases of found human remains that still possess a large amount of tissue, an estimation of TSD can be completed using entomological techniques (Anderson and VanLaerhoven, 1996;Arnoldos et al, 2004;Campobasso et al, 2001;Hewadikaram and Goff, 1991;Leblanc and Strongman, 2002;Sharanowski et al, 208;Schoenly et al, 1991;Simpson and Strongman, 2002). However, in cases where little or no tissue remains on the body, an assessment of the decomposition stage and taphonomic changes must be conducted by a forensic anthropologist.…”

Section: Time Since Deathmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies have established that size of a pig affects the decomposition rates (Hewadikaram and Goff, 1991;Komar, 1998). The absence of blood in the pigs probably affected the decomposition rates reported by Bunch (2009) as it has been noted that parts of the body with a high volume of blood decompose faster (Clark et al, 1997).…”

Section: Decomposition Rate Comparison With Past Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decomposition Rates and Taphonomic Changes Associated with the Estimation of Time Since Death in a Summer Climate: A Case Study from Urban Nova Scotia

Brown¹,

Peckmann²

2013

Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal

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“…These include studies conducted in island habitats (Early & Goff, 1986;Tullis & Goff, 1987;Hewadikaram & Goff, 1991;Richards & Goff, 1997;Avila & Goff, 1998;Shalaby et al, 2000), tropical continental habitats (Cornaby, 1974;Coe, 1978;Jiron & Cartin, 1981;Braack, 1987) and temperate continental habitats (Bornemissza, 1957;Reed, 1958;Payne, 1965;Rodriguez & Bass, 1983;Anderson & Van Laerhoven, 1996). The eastern montane forests of the Chachapoya region in which the site of La Petaca is located (approx.…”

Section: Body Decomposition and Entomologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first insects to arrive are common flies in the families Sarcophagidae (flesh flies) and Calliphoridae (blow flies), and may be seen ovipositing or larvaepositing into body orifices minutes after death. Other orders that may be observed during this stage include Hymenoptera (wasps) and Formicidae (ants), and flies in the families Drosophilidae (fruit flies) and Muscidae (Hewadikaram & Goff, 1991;Shalaby et al, 2000;Goff, 2001). …”

Section: Body Decomposition and Entomologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortuary behaviour reconstruction through palaeoentomology: a case study from Chachapoya, Perú

Nystrom

Goff

2005

Int. J. Osteoarchaeol.

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This paper explores the contribution that applied forensic entomology can make to our understanding of prehistoric mortuary behaviour. Samples of insect remains were recovered from a mummy bundle that has been attributed to the Chachapoya people who occupied the northern highlands of Perú from ca. AD 800 to ca. AD 1532. The insects were identified to the family level and used to create a hypothetical timeline of post-mortem interval before the construction of the mummy bundle. The individual in question suffered from a number of blunt force insults to the head, followed by two and possibly three trepanation events. We speculate the initial insect colonisation to have taken place almost immediately following injury and subsequent surgery, occurring before the individual's death. Insect succession patterns and timing estimates for the appearance of periosteal reactive bone suggest that the individual was wrapped shortly following death. The application of such modern forensic techniques holds vast promise for addressing issues concerning Chachapoya mortuary behaviour and, further, these results can expand our understanding of mummy studies in general.

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Effect of Carcass Size on Rate of Decomposition and Arthropod Succession Patterns

Cited by 131 publications

References 0 publications

Delayed insect access alters carrion decomposition and necrophagous insect community assembly

Delayed insect access alters carrion decomposition and necrophagous insect community assembly

Decomposition Rates and Taphonomic Changes Associated with the Estimation of Time Since Death in a Summer Climate: A Case Study from Urban Nova Scotia

Mortuary behaviour reconstruction through palaeoentomology: a case study from Chachapoya, Perú

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