| Title |
Decomposition and insect succession on cadavers inside a vehicle environment
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology, August 2007
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s12024-007-0028-z |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Sasha C. Voss, Shari L. Forbes, Ian R. Dadour |
| Abstract |
This study presents differences in rate of decomposition and insect succession between exposed carcasses on the soil surface and those enclosed within a vehicle following carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Nine 45-kg pigs were used as models for human decomposition. Six animals were sacrificed by CO gas, half of which were placed within the driver's side of separate enclosed vehicles and half were placed under scavenger-proof cages on the soil surface. A further three animals were sacrificed by captive headbolt and placed under scavenger proof cages on the soil surface. The pattern of insect succession and rate of decomposition were similar between surface carcasses within trials regardless of the mode of death. Progression through the physical stages of decomposition was 3-4 days faster in the enclosed vehicle due to higher temperatures there compared to external ambient temperatures. Patterns of insect succession also differed between the vehicle and surface treatments. Carcass attendance by representatives of the Calliphoridae was delayed within the vehicle environment by 16-18 h, while oviposition was not observed until 24-28 h following death. In contrast, attendance by Calliphoridae at surface carcasses occurred within 1 h of death, and oviposition occurred within 6-8 h of death. Typical patterns of insect succession on the carcasses were also altered. Carcass attendance by representatives of the Coleoptera occurred during the bloat stage of decomposition at surface carcasses but was delayed until the onset of wet decomposition (as defined by carcass deflation and breakage of the skin) within the vehicle environment. This study provides baseline data outlining the decomposition patterns of a carcass enclosed within a vehicle following CO poisoning in Western Australia. Understanding how variations in decomposition situations impact on the rate of decomposition and patterns of insect succession is essential to obtaining an accurate estimate of minimum post-mortem interval (PMI). |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 160 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 3 | 2% |
| Malaysia | 2 | 1% |
| Brazil | 1 | <1% |
| United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
| South Africa | 1 | <1% |
| Unknown | 152 | 95% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Bachelor | 34 | 21% |
| Student > Master | 24 | 15% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 21 | 13% |
| Student > Postgraduate | 10 | 6% |
| Other | 10 | 6% |
| Other | 31 | 19% |
| Unknown | 30 | 19% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 74 | 46% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 13 | 8% |
| Chemistry | 9 | 6% |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 9 | 6% |
| Social Sciences | 6 | 4% |
| Other | 15 | 9% |
| Unknown | 34 | 21% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 3. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 30 April 2021.
All research outputs
#8,064,660
of 24,217,893 outputs
Outputs from Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology
#207
of 1,014 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#25,480
of 69,003 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology
#2
of 9 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 24,217,893 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 44th percentile – i.e., 44% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 1,014 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 6.8. This one has done well, scoring higher than 76% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 69,003 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one is in the 16th percentile – i.e., 16% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
We're also able to compare this research output to 9 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has scored higher than 7 of them.