Seasonal Variation of Carcass Decomposition and Gravesoil Chemistry in a Cold (Dfa) Climate

Meyer, Bernard S.; Anderson, Brianna; Carter, David

doi:10.1111/1556-4029.12169

Cited by 70 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…When NRN was controlled for the 1 kg mass moved far away from borderline statistically significant. While the pH of the soil increases during decomposition [40,3], we observed it to have a smaller effect compared to NRN, as assessed by PERMANOVA R 2 (25 and 50 % less on average in 16S and 18S data, respectively).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…The 1 kg carcasses were marginally statistically significant compared to other masses, particularly the 50 kg mass. However, all other carcass masses (20,40, and 50 kg) did not display significant differences in their microbial communities throughout decomposition. This finding suggests that microbial clocks to estimate the postmortem interval may be robust to human cadaver mass, at least between 20-50 kg.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Carcass mass has little influence on the structure of gravesoil microbial communities

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Little is known about how variables, such as carcass mass, affect the succession pattern of microbes in soils during decomposition. To investigate the effects of carcass mass on the soil microbial community, soils associated with swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) carcasses of four different masses were sampled until the 15th day of decomposition during the month of June in a pasture near Lincoln, Nebraska. Soils underneath swine of 1, 20, 40, and 50 kg masses were investigated in triplicate, as well as control sites not associated with a carcass. Soil microbial communities were characterized by sequencing the archaeal, bacterial (16S), and eukaryotic (18S) rRNA genes in soil samples. We conclude that time of decomposition was a significant influence on the microbial community, but carcass mass was not. The gravesoil associated with 1 kg mass carcasses differs most compared to the gravesoil associated with other carcass masses. We also identify the 15 most abundant bacterial and eukaryotic taxa, and discuss changes in their abundance as carcass decomposition progressed. Finally, we show significant decreases in alpha diversity for carcasses of differing mass in pre-carcass rupture (days 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 postmortem) versus post-carcass rupture (days 9 and 15 postmortem) microbial communities.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Carcass mass has little influence on the structure of gravesoil microbial communities

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…When corpses rupture they release an ammonia-rich, high nutrient fluid that alters both the pH and nutrient content of the soil (Meyer et al, 2013). Accordingly we saw a predictable spike in gravesoil pH from ∼6.0 to ∼8.5 (Figure 1B) and declines in Acidobacteria (Figure 2A), the abundance of which is known to be inversely related to soil pH (Lauber et al, 2009).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A microbial clock provides an accurate estimate of the postmortem interval in a mouse model system

Metcalf

Parfrey

González

et al. 2013

eLife

289

323

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Establishing the time since death is critical in every death investigation, yet existing techniques are susceptible to a range of errors and biases. For example, forensic entomology is widely used to assess the postmortem interval (PMI), but errors can range from days to months. Microbes may provide a novel method for estimating PMI that avoids many of these limitations. Here we show that postmortem microbial community changes are dramatic, measurable, and repeatable in a mouse model system, allowing PMI to be estimated within approximately 3 days over 48 days. Our results provide a detailed understanding of bacterial and microbial eukaryotic ecology within a decomposing corpse system and suggest that microbial community data can be developed into a forensic tool for estimating PMI.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01104.001

show abstract

“…3). The timing of rupture coincides with a predictable increase in soil pH indicative of rupture as ammonia-rich fluids are released into the soil (24). Furthermore, the stage of decomposition was assessed with visual score data following Megyesi et al (9).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertebrate Decomposition Is Accelerated by Soil Microbes

Lauber

Metcalf

Keepers

et al. 2014

Appl Environ Microbiol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

f Carrion decomposition is an ecologically important natural phenomenon influenced by a complex set of factors, including temperature, moisture, and the activity of microorganisms, invertebrates, and scavengers. The role of soil microbes as decomposers in this process is essential but not well understood and represents a knowledge gap in carrion ecology. To better define the role and sources of microbes in carrion decomposition, lab-reared mice were decomposed on either (i) soil with an intact microbial community or (ii) soil that was sterilized. We characterized the microbial community (16S rRNA gene for bacteria and archaea, and the 18S rRNA gene for fungi and microbial eukaryotes) for three body sites along with the underlying soil (i.e., gravesoils) at time intervals coinciding with visible changes in carrion morphology. Our results indicate that mice placed on soil with intact microbial communities reach advanced stages of decomposition 2 to 3 times faster than those placed on sterile soil. Microbial communities associated with skin and gravesoils of carrion in stages of active and advanced decay were significantly different between soil types (sterile versus untreated), suggesting that substrates on which carrion decompose may partially determine the microbial decomposer community. However, the source of the decomposer community (soil-versus carcass-associated microbes) was not clear in our data set, suggesting that greater sequencing depth needs to be employed to identify the origin of the decomposer communities in carrion decomposition. Overall, our data show that soil microbial communities have a significant impact on the rate at which carrion decomposes and have important implications for understanding carrion ecology.

show abstract

Seasonal Variation of Carcass Decomposition and Gravesoil Chemistry in a Cold (Dfa) Climate

Cited by 70 publications

References 43 publications

Carcass mass has little influence on the structure of gravesoil microbial communities

Carcass mass has little influence on the structure of gravesoil microbial communities

A microbial clock provides an accurate estimate of the postmortem interval in a mouse model system

Vertebrate Decomposition Is Accelerated by Soil Microbes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About