1. Faunal Succession and Human Decay April 13, 2009

2. Faunistic Studies Based on ecological premise Each sequential wave of organisms is unique Usually requires entomological expertise Can accurately estimate age of a corpse Based on ecological premise Each sequential wave of organisms is unique Usually requires entomological expertise Can accurately estimate age of a corpse

3. Limitations Faunistic studies can be used to estimate age of corpse Accurate data Accurate collection Knowledge of perimortem activities “This body was available for colonization on this date” Faunistic studies can be used to estimate age of corpse Accurate data Accurate collection Knowledge of perimortem activities “This body was available for colonization on this date”

4. Ecological Categories of Carrion Community Necrophagous spp. Sarcosaprophagous spp. Most important Feed on carrion itself Necrophagous spp. Sarcosaprophagous spp. Most important Feed on carrion itself

5. Ecological Categories of Carrion Community Predatory and Parasitic On necrophagous spp. Second most important Beetles, flies, Assassin bugs, Wasps Predatory and Parasitic On necrophagous spp. Second most important Beetles, flies, Assassin bugs, Wasps

6. Ecological Categories of Carrion Community Omnivorous species Both carrion and inhabitants Adventive Species Use carrion as extension of their environment Omnivorous species Both carrion and inhabitants Adventive Species Use carrion as extension of their environment

8. Ecological Categories of Carrion Community Accidental Species Seek moisture Resting place Wide variety of insects Plant-associating, others Accidental Species Seek moisture Resting place Wide variety of insects Plant-associating, others

10. Roll of Necrophagous Invertebrates Important component of food web Ecosystem defined A biological community together with its physical environment (=habitat) which functions as a unit to capture and cycle energy and which does this more or less independently of other ecosystems Important component of food web Ecosystem defined A biological community together with its physical environment (=habitat) which functions as a unit to capture and cycle energy and which does this more or less independently of other ecosystems

12. Roll of Necrophagous Invertebrates Environment Defined: The total of circumstances surrounding an organism or group of organisms especially the combination of external or extrinsic physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development and survival of organisms Environment Defined: The total of circumstances surrounding an organism or group of organisms especially the combination of external or extrinsic physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development and survival of organisms

13. Basic Structure of a Food Web Trophic: having to do with the process of nutrition Trophic level: position of an animal in the food web Producers Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Tertiary consumers Quaternary consumers Trophic: having to do with the process of nutrition Trophic level: position of an animal in the food web Producers Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Tertiary consumers Quaternary consumers

14. Other Components of the Food Web Omnivores Parasites Transformers Omnivores Parasites Transformers

15. Fresh Stage Initial decay Algor mortis,livor mortis, rigor mortis, autolysis Ectoparasites leave body Eggs/early instars appear with onset of autolysis Initial decay Algor mortis,livor mortis, rigor mortis, autolysis Ectoparasites leave body Eggs/early instars appear with onset of autolysis

18. Putrefaction Stage Begins with the onset of bloat 1-3 days Insect accelerate putrefaction Liquefaction of muscles larvae feed between muscles Then on muscle fibers Begins with the onset of bloat 1-3 days Insect accelerate putrefaction Liquefaction of muscles larvae feed between muscles Then on muscle fibers

20. Insect Succession Necrophagous insects arrive on and in a corpse in somewhat predictable sequence Ecological Succession Seres: Series of blending waves of arthropods, each comprised of different organisms Necrophagous insects arrive on and in a corpse in somewhat predictable sequence Ecological Succession Seres: Series of blending waves of arthropods, each comprised of different organisms

22. Importance of Succession Extend PMI estimations Describe or detect other incidents Extend PMI estimations Describe or detect other incidents

23. Arthropod Seres Number of seres variable Megnin: 8 seres Exposed corpse Buried corpse--diversity markedly reduced Number of seres variable Megnin: 8 seres Exposed corpse Buried corpse--diversity markedly reduced

24. SereState of CorpseComposition #1FreshBlow Flies, Filth Flies, Flesh Flies #2BloatedFlesh Flies, Cynomya. sp #3 Putrid Advanced Decay Skin beetles, Grease moths #4 Putrid Advanced Decay Cheese skippers, Fannia, Sepsidae, Cleridae #5 Late Putrid Advanced Decay Dump flies, Phoridae, Silphidae, Clown beetles #6Early Dry StageMites #7Mid/late Dry StageDermestidae, Tineidae #8Late Dry StagePtinidae, Tenebrionidae

25. Buried Corpse 3 Seres: Flies Root eating Beetles Rove beetles 3 Seres: Flies Root eating Beetles Rove beetles

26. Other Successional Studies Animal carcasses Number of seres varies 2-6 Attempt to define biological communities Animal carcasses Number of seres varies 2-6 Attempt to define biological communities

27. Summary of Findings to Date Broad general agreement of orders and families General agreement of sequence General agreement of dipteran sere Broad general agreement of orders and families General agreement of sequence General agreement of dipteran sere

28. Any Questions?