The Effect of Body Mass on Outdoor Adult Human Decomposition

Roberts, Lindsey G.; Spencer, Jessica; Dabbs, Gretchen R.

doi:10.1111/1556-4029.13398

Cited by 21 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Based on these data, we assume that the median mass of the human sample from Connor et al [23] was no less than 80 kg, so the difference in median between pig and human sample was no less than 45 kg experimental findings supporting the claim that in a mass range of 73-159 kg (N = 12, nine cadavers over 100 kg, i.e. obese, adipose bodies) decomposition rate is not significantly related to human body mass [54], all rigorous studies revealed that in a forensically relevant mass range (10-90 kg) small pig cadavers decompose significantly faster than large ones [55][56][57][58][59]. This difference appeared only in the case of insect-colonized carcasses [56] and has been suggested to result from less efficient active decay in larger cadavers, as a consequence of competition over carrion between different insect taxa [45,59].…”

Section: Pigsmentioning

confidence: 54%

Pigs vs people: the use of pigs as analogues for humans in forensic entomology and taphonomy research

et al. 2019

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Most studies of decomposition in forensic entomology and taphonomy have used non-human cadavers. Following the recommendation of using domestic pig cadavers as analogues for humans in forensic entomology in the 1980s, pigs became the most frequently used model cadavers in forensic sciences. They have shaped our understanding of how large vertebrate cadavers decompose in, for example, various environments, seasons and after various ante-or postmortem cadaver modifications. They have also been used to demonstrate the feasibility of several new or well-established forensic techniques. The advent of outdoor human taphonomy facilities enabled experimental comparisons of decomposition between pig and human cadavers. Recent comparisons challenged the pig-as-analogue claim in entomology and taphonomy research. In this review, we discuss in a broad methodological context the advantages and disadvantages of pig and human cadavers for forensic research and rebut the critique of pigs as analogues for humans. We conclude that experiments using human cadaver analogues (i.e. pig carcasses) are easier to replicate and more practical for controlling confounding factors than studies based solely on humans and, therefore, are likely to remain our primary epistemic source of forensic knowledge for the immediate future. We supplement these considerations with new guidelines for model cadaver choice in forensic science research. Keywords Forensic entomology. Forensic taphonomy. Pig carcasses. Human corpses. Animal models. Decomposition ecology "We are unlikely to ever know everything about every organism. Therefore, we should agree on some convenient organism(s) to study in great depth, so that we can use the experience of the past (in that organism) to build on in the future. This will lead to a body of knowledge in that 'model system' that allows us to design appropriate studies of nonmodel systems to answer important questions about their biology" [1]. "Model species are usually easy to rear, observe, or otherwise experimentally manipulate. They therefore allow knowledge to be built up rapidly and efficiently, because confounding factors are known and thus can be controlled in subsequent experiments" [2].

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Section: Pigsmentioning

confidence: 54%

Pigs vs people: the use of pigs as analogues for humans in forensic entomology and taphonomy research

et al. 2019

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“…The study conducted provides an in-depth analysis of the variables influencing cadaver decomposition, primarily focusing on insect succession patterns and the effects of seasonal changes (Moura et al 1997;Tabor et al 2004;Corrêa et al 2014). The approach taken to explore these variables was an integrated one, combining both subjective and objective measures, which substantially enhanced the precision and dependability of PMI min estimates (Cross & Simmons 2010;Lynch-Aird et al 2015;Roberts et al 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Refining decomposition stage estimation: A study of seasonal insect composition and carcass weight change

Park,

2023

Entomological Research

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In this study, we explore the interplay of seasonal insect assemblages and carcass weight change to refine the estimation of minimum post‐mortem interval (PMImin), a key variable in forensic investigations. By integrating these parameters, we shed light on their combined influence on decomposition stages, thus paving the way for a more robust method of PMImin estimation. Our approach relies on rigorous field studies examining pig carcasses across spring, summer and autumn, with comprehensive measurements of carcass weight and detailed documentation of insect succession. We observed distinct insect assemblages and weight‐change trends characteristic of each season, underlining the influence of seasonal variability on decomposition dynamics. To further enhance the reliability of our model, we combined the novel parameter of carcass weight change with the conventional total body score (TBS) method, ensuring a more objective assessment of decomposition stages. Although our study indicates promising advancements, it also acknowledges the limitations of using a single pig carcass per season, suggesting future research should incorporate larger sample sizes.

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“…To determine how abundance patterns differed with resource change for common carrion insects, we used total body score (TBS) as a proxy for resource change, using the method by Megyesi et al (2005). TBS is a commonly used and objective measure of decomposition state and indicator of resource change (Nawrocka et al 2016;Connor et al 2017;Roberts et al 2017;Dawson et al 2021b). We applied a separate numeric value based on the physical decomposition of the remains to each body region (head, torso and limbs) and combined these values together to provide an overall score of the decomposition rate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insect abundance patterns on vertebrate remains reveal carrion resource quality variation

et al. 2022

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Resource quality is a key driver of species abundance and community structure. Carrion is unique among resources due to its high nutritional quality, rapidly changing nature, and the diverse community of organisms it supports. Yet the role resource quality plays in driving variation in abundance patterns of carrion-associated species remains poorly studied. Here we investigate how species abundances change with a measure of resource change, and interpret these findings to determine how species differ in their association with carrion that changes in quality over time. We conducted field succession experiments using pigs and humans over two winters and one summer. We quantified the effect of total body score, an objective measure of resource change, on adult insect abundance using generalised additive models. For each species, phases of increasing abundance likely indicated attraction to a high-quality resource, and length of abundance maxima indicated optimal oviposition and feeding time. Some species such as the beetle Necrobia rufipes had a rapid spike in abundance, suggesting a narrow window of opportunity for carrion resource exploitation, while species like the wasp Nasonia vitripennis had a gradual change in abundance, indicating a wide window of resource exploitation. Different abundance patterns were also observed between species occurring on pigs and humans, suggesting cadaver type is an important aspect of resource quality. Our findings show that species abundances, unlike species occurrences, can reveal additional detail about species exploitation of carrion and provide information about how resource quality may drive competition and variation in insect community succession.

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The Effect of Body Mass on Outdoor Adult Human Decomposition

Cited by 21 publications

References 34 publications

Pigs vs people: the use of pigs as analogues for humans in forensic entomology and taphonomy research

Pigs vs people: the use of pigs as analogues for humans in forensic entomology and taphonomy research

Refining decomposition stage estimation: A study of seasonal insect composition and carcass weight change

Insect abundance patterns on vertebrate remains reveal carrion resource quality variation

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