Forensic Taphonomy in Marine Contexts

Sorg, Marcella H; Dearborn, John H.; Monahan, Elizabeth I.; Ryan, Henry F.; Sweeney, Kristin G.; David, Edward E.

doi:10.1201/9781439821923.ch37

Cited by 41 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Another method to estimate rafting duration is based on the size of particular rafters or the integrity of rafting substrata (e.g., Stoner & Greening 1984, Hobday 2000b, Tsikhon-Lukanina et al 2001a). This approach is based on the same principle used by forensic scientists (e.g., Sorg et al 1997), namely to utilise approximate growth rates of common indicator organisms/rafters (e.g., stalked barnacles) to reach minimum estimates of rafting duration. Assuming that stalked barnacles colonise items soon after these went afloat and combining this with maximum growth rates (see Table 17), one can obtain relatively reasonable estimates of floating duration.…”

Section: Top Predatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Ecology of Rafting in the Marine Environment. Ii. the Rafting Organisms and Community

Thiel¹,

Gutow²

2005

Oceanography and Marine Biology - An Annual Review

351

394

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Rafting of marine and terrestrial organisms has been reported from a variety of substrata and from all major oceans of the world. Herein we present information on common rafting organisms and on ecological interactions during rafting voyages. An extensive literature review revealed a total of 1205 species, for which rafting was confirmed or inferred based on distributional or genetic evidence. Rafting organisms comprised cyanobacteria, algae, protists, invertebrates from most marine but also terrestrial phyla, and even a few terrestrial vertebrates. Marine hydrozoans, bryozoans, crustaceans and gastropods were the most common taxa that had been observed rafting. All major feeding types were represented among rafters, being dominated by grazing/boring and suspension-feeding organisms, which occurred on all floating substrata. Besides these principal trophic groups, predators/scavengers and detritus feeders were also reported. Motility of rafting organisms was highest on macroalgae and lowest on abiotic substrata such as plastics and volcanic pumice. Important trends were revealed for the reproductive biology of rafting organisms. A high proportion of clonal organisms (Cnidaria and Bryozoa) featured asexual reproduction, often in combination with sexual reproduction. Almost all rafting organisms have internal fertilisation, which may be due to the fact that gamete concentrations in the rafting environment are too low for successful fertilisation of external fertilisers. Following fertilisation, many rafting organisms incubate their offspring in/on their body or deposit embryos in egg masses on rafts. Local recruitment, where offspring settle in the immediate vicinity of parents, is considered an important advantage for establishing persistent local populations on a raft, or in new habitats. Some organisms are obligate rafters, spending their entire life cycle on a raft, but the large majority of reported rafters are considered facultative rafters. These organisms typically live in benthic (or terrestrial) habitats, but may become dispersed while being confined to a floating item. Substratum characteristics (complexity, surface, size) have important effects on the composition of the rafting community. While at sea, ecological interactions (facilitation, competition, predation) contribute to the community succession on rafts. Organisms capable to compete for and exploit resources on a raft (space and food) will be able to persist throughout community succession. The duration of rafting voyages is closely related to rafting distances, which may cover various geographical scales. In chronological order, three features of an organism gain in importance during rafting, these being ability to (1) hold onto floating items, (2) establish and compete successfully and (3) develop persistent local MARTIN THIEL & LARS GUTOW 280 populations during a long voyage. Small organisms that do not feed on their floating substratum and, with asexual reproduction or direct development, combine all these features appear to be mos...

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Section: Top Predatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Ecology of Rafting in the Marine Environment. Ii. the Rafting Organisms and Community

Thiel¹,

Gutow²

2005

Oceanography and Marine Biology - An Annual Review

351

394

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“…Related to these studies are those concerning decomposition rates (Boyle et al, 1997;Cotton et al, 1987;Davis & Goff, 2000;Haglund, 1991Haglund, , 1993Kahana et al, 1999;Nawrocki et al, 1997;Skinner et al, 1988;Sorg et al, 1997), particularly those concerned with identifying factors specific to aqueous environments which alter the length and sequence of disarticulation in comparison to terrestrial settings. The effects of water transport on dry bone are also researched (Brooks & Brooks, 1997;Cox & Bell, 1999;Galloway et al, 1997;Sorg et al, 1997;Willey et al, 1997), though these studies draw heavily from the palaeontological literature discussed below.…”

Section: Fluviatile Taphonomymentioning

confidence: 98%

Hydrodynamic sorting in a coastal marine skeletal assemblage

Stojanowski

2002

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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In this paper I evaluate the effects of wave and tidal erosion on element-specific measures of phenotypic variability. Previous research has found a high correlation between skeletal weight, shape, and density and the transport potential of an element exposed to hydrodynamic forces. However, no previous studies have attempted to address the issue of within-element sorting based on selective removal of only the smallest members of a given element class. I evaluate this hypothesis using a human skeletal sample from Bird Island (8DI52) located in Dixie County, Florida. This sample comprises two components, an eroded sample that was exposed during severe storm and tidal activity, and an uneroded sample excavated from primary context. The measurement-specific means for the subcomponents were compared using Student's t and Wilcoxon tests and variability differences were evaluated based on standard deviations, coefficients of variation, and maximum/minimum indices. The data included maxillary and mandibular tooth dimensions and postcranial metrics. No evidence for selective winnowing based on within-element size was found in this data set.

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“…The role of freshwater and marine fauna in forensic investigations has received very little attention (Payne and King 1972;Nuorteva et al 1974;Goff and Odom 1987;Haskell et al 1989;Catts and Goff 1992;Vance et al 1995;Sorg et al 1997;Davis and Goff 2000). Knowledge about the role of aquatic arthropods during decomposition is still scanty (Keiper et al 1997;Tomberlin and Adler 1998;Anderson 1999, 2002;Anderson 2001;Merrit and Wallace 2001;Anderson and Hobischak 2004).…”

Section: Future Trends In Forensic Entomologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic entomology

Amendt

Krettek

Zehner

2004

Naturwissenschaften

408

285

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Necrophagous insects are important in the decomposition of cadavers. The close association between insects and corpses and the use of insects in medicocriminal investigations is the subject of forensic entomology. The present paper reviews the historical background of this discipline, important postmortem processes, and discusses the scientific basis underlying attempts to determine the time interval since death. Using medical techniques, such as the measurement of body temperature or analysing livor and rigor mortis, time since death can only be accurately measured for the first two or three days after death. In contrast, by calculating the age of immature insect stages feeding on a corpse and analysing the necrophagous species present, postmortem intervals from the first day to several weeks can be estimated. These entomological methods may be hampered by difficulties associated with species identification, but modern DNA techniques are contributing to the rapid and authoritative identification of necrophagous insects. Other uses of entomological data include the toxicological examination of necrophagous larvae from a corpse to identify and estimate drugs and toxicants ingested by the person when alive and the proof of possible postmortem manipulations. Forensic entomology may even help in investigations dealing with people who are alive but in need of care, by revealing information about cases of neglect.

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Forensic Taphonomy in Marine Contexts

Cited by 41 publications

References 23 publications

The Ecology of Rafting in the Marine Environment. Ii. the Rafting Organisms and Community

The Ecology of Rafting in the Marine Environment. Ii. the Rafting Organisms and Community

Hydrodynamic sorting in a coastal marine skeletal assemblage

Forensic entomology

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