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The Influence of Insects on Decomposition Rate in Buried and Surface Remains
Author(s) -
Simmons Tal,
Cross Peter A.,
Adlam Rachel E.,
Moffatt Colin
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01402.x
Subject(s) - decomposition , insect , toxicology , larva , zoology , significant difference , biology , ecology , chemistry , medicine
This article reports results of a comparative study of decomposition rates of wild rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) which were either (i) buried after exposure to insect activity, (ii) buried without exposure, (iii) kept above ground behind an insect screen, or (iv) continuously exposed above ground in a field experiment. Results showed that dipteran oviposition occurred consistently in groups i and iv only. Decomposition rates (measured by Total Body Score every c. 50 accumulated degree days [ADD]) of rabbits kept behind the screen and those buried without exposure showed no difference ( p = 0.450). This was significantly slower than those buried after exposure ( p = 0.0016) which was in turn significantly slower than those continuously exposed ( p << 0.001). Temperatures collected from animals showed the presence of feeding larvae increased intra‐abdominal temperatures to >5°C above ambient. The findings support the assertion that insect presence is the primary agent affecting decomposition rate via tissue consumption and also the heat they generate.