Changes to soil bacterial profiles as a result of Sus scrofa domesticus decomposition

Shifts in soil biodiversity—A forensic comparison between Sus scrofa domesticus and vegetation decomposition

“…Studies of cadaver decomposition and its interactions with, and effects on, soil ecology have highlighted the potential of forensic ecogenomics as a powerful tool to estimate PMI and identify clandestine graves through changes in microbial communities [14][15][16][20][21][22][23]. Although this tool has potential advantages compared with conventional methods for estimating PMI, most studies have, however, only considered a single carbon source (the cadaver) while dual sources can provide useful information for forensic practitioners to identify and differentiate gravesites in difficult cases such as transit or clandestine scenarios.…”

“…The use of some ecological indices, as employed by other researchers [20,29,30], revealed interesting data that could be used to differentiate between Sus scrofa domesticus and grass decompositions. As suggested by McGuire and Treseder [38], bacterial and fungal richness might be useful in calculating decomposition time.…”

“…For example, some sub-surface studies by Bergmann et al [19] and Olakanye et al [20] recorded spatial and temporal changes in soil bacterial diversity relative to burial depth and decomposition time, respectively. Also, aboveground studies by Lauber et al [21] that investigated the roles of microorganisms in cadaver ecogenomics recorded changes in 16S rRNA bacterial, 16S rRNA archaeal, and 18S rRNA fungal communities in sterile and non-sterile soils with differences between skin-associated and grave soil during the active and advanced decay stages.…”

Soil fungal community shift evaluation as a potential cadaver decomposition indicator

“…RNA-based DGGE analysis identified statistically significant diversity and richness divergence in the metabolically active bacterial associations during decomposition [29]. Also, DNAbased probing recorded increased community richness and diversity in the presence of Sus scrofa domesticus particularly in relation to proximity to the decomposing material [28]. To complete the study, and address a key knowledge gap in forensic ecogenomics, this investigation was made to target the 18S rRNA gene and so determine whether changes in soil fungal communities could also be used as cadaver decomposition indicators.…”

“…The principal objective of the wider research programme was to elucidate the responses of indigenous soil microbial communities to cadaver presence with Sus scrofa domesticus used as a human analogue [28]. RNA-based DGGE analysis identified statistically significant diversity and richness divergence in the metabolically active bacterial associations during decomposition [29].…”