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Immersing Corpses in Water 4/10/08. Overall Effects on Corpse Decomposition generally retarded Decomp begins in head region Skin of hands and feet Livor.

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Presentation on theme: "Immersing Corpses in Water 4/10/08. Overall Effects on Corpse Decomposition generally retarded Decomp begins in head region Skin of hands and feet Livor."— Presentation transcript:

1 Immersing Corpses in Water 4/10/08

2 Overall Effects on Corpse Decomposition generally retarded Decomp begins in head region Skin of hands and feet Livor mortis may not appear Bloating

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4 Overall Effects on Corpse Finger and toenails easily detachable Skeletonization

5 Faunal Associates Ectoparasites Fleas Body lice

6 Carrion Community Associates Pig carcass study by Payne Stage one: submerged fresh Bloat Aquatic Insects

7 Hydrophilid Beetles Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae Water scavenger beetles 284 species in North America 1-40 mm Long palpi Larvae predatory, adults scavengers

8 Hydropsychid Caddisflies Trycoptera: Hydropsychidae Water nymph 146 species in North America Adults 6-19 mm Larvae: streams and rivers Feed on algae, diatoms, crustaceans, insects

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10 Chironomid Midges Diptera: Chironomidae Non-biting midtes 700 species 1-10 mm Resemble mosquitos Larvae aquatic

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12 Simulidae Larvae Diptera: Simulidae Black flies Blood feeders Small, black/grey Larvae aquatic

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15 Heptageniid Mayflies Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae Mayflies 500 species Clear wings, prominent venation Nymps aquatic, flattened, streamlined

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17 Carrion Community Associates Stage two: submerged fresh Early Floating Exposed abdomen: eggs Submerged portions still inhabited by organisms in stage one

18 Carrion Community Associates Stage three: Floating Decay Blowfly eggs hatch Oviposition ceased by Day 3 Coleoptera Silphids, Staphylinids, Histerids

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20 Carrion Community Associates Stage four: Bloated Deterioration Many maggots, beetles Most tissues gone

21 Carrion Community Associates Stage five: Floating Remains Few maggots Histerid beetles Small flies: Sphaerocerids, Phorids, Drosophilids, Psychodids Stage ends when remains sink

22 Carrion Community Associates Stage six: Sunken Remains Decomp completed by bacteria and fungi

23 Postmortem Submersion Interval Make use of organisms which attach themselves to substrate Understand differences between moving and still water organisms no purely sarophagous aquatic insects

24 Ecological Function Food for invertebrates and fish Shelter Attract secondary scavengers Substrate for producers Substrate for grazers

25 Saltwater Submersion Fauna almost completely different from fresh water little studied Barnacles Shrimp, prawns, crabs

26 Any Questions?


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