Vultures and others scavenger vertebrates associated with man-sized pig carcasses: a perspective in Forensic Taphonomy

Demo, C.; Cansi, Edison Rogério; Kosmann, Cecília; Pujol-Luz, José Roberto

doi:10.1590/s1984-46702013000500010

Cited by 9 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Specific local resources, such as the number of scavengers, can influence the number of visits (Blanc-Celino et al 2013) and are an essential topic to be considered in forensic studies. Demo et al (2013), in a similar study in the Cerrado and using carcasses of three domestic pigs weighing approximately 60 kg each, reported four species of birds and one mammal feeding on the carcasses. These animals interfered with the decomposition process by spreading and disappearing with the bones.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Vertebrate activity can also modify the chronology of the decay process, interfering with the estimation of the PMI. Vertebrate interference can significantly reduce accuracy of the PMI analysis (Steadman et al 2018) as they can destroy the soft parts of the corpse, spread and bury bones and severely alter the crime scene (Demo et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2018) as they can destroy the soft parts of the corpse, spread and bury bones and severely alter the crime scene (Demo et al . 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vertebrate scavengers alter the chronology of carcass decay

Lira

Aguiar²,

Silveira³

et al. 2020

Austral Ecology

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When feeding on exposed corpses, vertebrate scavengers can alter the chronology of decay and interfere with post-mortem interval estimation. However, information on vertebrate scavengers' actions in areas of the Brazilian Cerrado is scarce, which may constrain future criminal investigations. Thus, we aimed to identify the vertebrate species that visit carcasses, determine whether the number of visits between seasons and among phytophysiognomies varies and examine whether decay stage influences attractiveness to vertebrate scavengers. We obtained data using camera traps installed in two protected areas with three Cerrado phytophysiognomies. The 2032 photographs and 109 videos obtained showed that eight mammal and one bird species interacted with the carcasses. Canis familiaris and Caracara plancus had the highest numbers of carcass visits and feeding events. Stage of decay negatively influenced the number of mammal visits to the carcasses, but bird visits were not affected. Seasons did not affect visit number, and most visits occurred in the cerrado sensu stricto. Because they interfere with the decay process, possibly compromising evidence interpretation, scavengers should be considered in forensic analyses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vertebrate scavengers alter the chronology of carcass decay

Lira

Aguiar²,

Silveira³

et al. 2020

Austral Ecology

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“…There is no developed camera trap study design or structured analyses for vultures, especially for feeding sites, yet. Even more, there are only a few studies of the avian fauna ever made with automated cameras (Demo et al, 2013;Samson & Ramakrishnan, 2017). This is why the current research is important, aiming to set the grounds for evaluation of the vulture restaurants usage by griffon vultures, estimation of their feeding periodicity, the intraspecies dynamics and the intra-and inter-species relations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding site usage by griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) in Bulgaria revealed by camera traps

Nenov¹,

Zlatanova²,

Stoynov³

et al. 2018

Nat. Cons. Res.

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A group of griffon vultures in Kresna Gorge was studied for its visit on the feeding station next to Rakitna Village after being reintroduced in the area. A camera trap method was used for a better understanding of the breeding behaviour of the griffon vulture, including the intra-and inter-species relations. A statistically significant difference was found between the independent feeding events during the pre-incubation and incubation periods of vultures. The duration of those events also differs, the ones in the second period being longer. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was observed between the number of vultures per photo for the two sample periods, as a result of a different number of unmarked wild birds and different activity patterns of the nesting pairs. In spite of the fact that the terrestrial predators are also active during the night, their daytime presence leads to a high enough overlap between the two ecological groups, showing that the carnivores are a disturbance factor for the scavengers. The raven is the most abundant species at the feeding site and thus is a food competitor to the griffon vulture. The two species have adapted their behaviour to use the feeding station more successfully during the different biological periods. A significant decrease in the activity overlap between the individuals of the successfully nesting pairs was observed on the feeding station after the beginning of the incubation period. On the other hand, the activity overlap of the unsuccessfully nesting pairs increased in the second sample period. Camera traps can be used in further studies of the mating ecology for individual breeding pairs, when a direct observation on the nest is hard or impossible. This can be a cheap alternative of the time-consuming field observations.

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“…Typically insect scavengers species such as Diptera and Coleoptera are the focus of ecological succession studies , as they are the mainly responsible for the consumption of remains, and provide more accurate information about postmortem interval (PMI) . There is little information regarding other animals that may not be directly associated with the cadaveric material or the substrate alteration caused by it, but are somehow attracted by as yet undescribed resources.…”

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confidence: 99%

Shells and Bones: A Forensic Medicine Study of the Association of Terrestrial Snail Allopeas micra with Buried Human Remains in Brazil

Galvão

Pujol-Luz

et al. 2015

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Little is known regarding the scavenger fauna associated with buried human corpses, particularly in clandestine burials. We report the presence of 20 shells of the terrestrial snail Allopeas micra, within hollow bones of human remains buried for 5 years, during the process of collecting DNA material. The fact that a large number of shells of A. micra had been found in the corpse and in the crime scene supports the assumption that there was no attempt to remove the corpse from the area where the crime occurred. Despite this, our observations cannot be used to estimate the postmortem interval because there is no precise knowledge about the development of this species. This is the first record of a terrestrial snail associated with a human corpse and its role in this forensic medicine case.

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Vultures and others scavenger vertebrates associated with man-sized pig carcasses: a perspective in Forensic Taphonomy

Cited by 9 publications

References 12 publications

Vertebrate scavengers alter the chronology of carcass decay

Vertebrate scavengers alter the chronology of carcass decay

Feeding site usage by griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) in Bulgaria revealed by camera traps

Shells and Bones: A Forensic Medicine Study of the Association of Terrestrial Snail Allopeas micra with Buried Human Remains in Brazil

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