DOCSLIB.ORG

Human Decomposition in an Insect-Restricted Environment

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Human Decomposition in an Insect-Restricted Environment University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 12-2003 Death as a process : human decomposition in an insect-restricted environment Kimberly Dawn Tomlinson Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes Recommended Citation Tomlinson, Kimberly Dawn, "Death as a process : human decomposition in an insect-restricted environment. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2003. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/5308 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Kimberly Dawn Tomlinson entitled "Death as a process : human decomposition in an insect-restricted environment." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Master of Arts, with a major in Anthropology. Murray Marks, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis writtenby Kimberly Dawn Tomlinson entitled "Death as a Process: Human Decomposition in an Insect-Restricted Environment." I have examined the final paper copy of this thesis forform and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements forthe degreeof Master of Arts, witha major in Anthropology. We have rea<:ithis thesis and recommend its acceptance: Acceptance forthe Council: �a* Vice Prov:::; Graduate Studies Death as a Process: Human Decomposition in an Insect-Restricted Environment A Thesis Presented for-the Master of Arts Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Kimberly Dawn Tomlinson December 2003 tli::sis 2/&, ,76'! Copyright © 2003 by Kimberly DawnTomlinson All rights reserved. Insect-Restricted Environmentfor Human Decomposition 5-3 1-02 Copyright © 2003 by Kimberly DawnTomlinson Allrights reserved. ii Dedication To thosewho give so graciouslyofthemselves--even in death 111 Acknowledgements I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who contributed to this endeavor. Thanks to Dr. Murray Marks is in order forgiving me the confidence to take my research to the next level. Also, I would like to thank Dr. Lee Meadows Jantz for contributing to my determination to "make it work," and Dr. Walter Klippel forhis patient ear and entomological advice. Specialthanks are attributed to Dr. WilliamM. Bass for his sincere faith, enthusiasm, and supportfor my research from beginning to end. In addition to faculty mentors, I would also like to recognize a few "student" mentors. Specialthanks goes to AngiChristensen, Michelle Hamilton, and Jennifer Synstelien for their academic advice and to Nancy Anderson for her professional advice, as well as emotional support. I would also like to acknowledge the support I received while affiliated with the Facility. The WilliamM. Bass Endowment provided funding for the construction of the insect-restricted environment. Graduate students involved with the transport and handling of donations included: Jaime Stuart,Jennifer Synstelien, Beth Bassett,Kate Spradley, Jamie McCuiston,Michelle Miller, and Mariateresa Tersigni. Thanks for treating my "guys" with such gentleness. I would also like to recognize Erin Eldridge for her botanical expertise andthank Carrie Srnka for keeping me company while I worked. Further acknowledgments are in order for the morgue staff. Thanks for enduring the 4 :30 wake-up calls! Also, I would like to recognize the urMedical Center Police for making sure I wasokay in the dark. IV Last, but certainly not least,I would like to extendmy greatestappreciation to my family: Thanks Mother for always believing in me, even when my goals seemed unobtainable. ThanksDaddy forshowing your love for''your little girl" by helping me makemy blue-prints a reality. And to my beloved Jay Sikes, thanks fornever doubting me and forinspiring me to "adapt and overcome." V Abstract Many view death as an event; however, the death investigator must perceivedeath as a process that is catalyzed by cellular breakdownand ultimately results in skeletal remains. Yet, a gap persistsin the· understanding of the causal events inherent to the human decompositionprocess. In order to gain a clearer understandingof these causal events, research must focuson internalfactors of decomposition,specifically autolysis and putrefaction. However, in order to observethe contributionof autolysis and putrefactionto the processof human decomposition,external factors proven to grossly manipulate these effects,as perceivedby the senses, must be limited. One such external factoris insectactivity. While gathering data forsuccessional analysisof insects affiliatedwith the decompositionof the baby pig, Susscrofa Linnaeus,Payne ( 1965) denied insect access to a separate groupof pigs. Observing that the decompositionof this groupdiffered from the groupexposed to insects, Payne designatedan alternativenomenclature forthe stages of decompositionspecific to the unexposedpigs. To determineif this nomenclaturecould be applied to humansin a similarsetting, an insect-restrictedenvironment was constructedat the AnthropologyResearch Facility in Knoxville,Tennessee. Four unembalmed, unautopsied humandonations were involved in the study. As two members of the controlgroup were allowed fullexposure to the elements, two members of the experimentalgroup were placed inside the structure specificallyto monitor autolysisand putrefaction influencedonly by environmental conditions and insects thatcrossed the barrier. Data collection involved observationsof V1 the visual and olfactorycues of human decompositionand notations of insects attracted to each subject, including those attemptingto cross the constructed barrier. Environmentaldata (i.e., temperature, humidity, rainfall, sky conditions) was collected in the vicinityof each donation,with specialattention attributed to temperatureand humiditydata collectionmethods. In order to contemplate each progression,all data specilicto each subjectwas articulatedwithin the contextof the circumstances surrounding each donation. Hence, Bass's (1997) nomenclaturerepresentative of decompositionin a natural and uncontrolledenvironment served as the default forall subjects, while Payne's (1965) nomenclaturespecific to insect-free pigs was considered when addressing the progressionof the experimentalgroup. While the interpretations of the decompositionand insect activitydata and the environmentaldata collection methods were supportedby the literature, the ultimategoal was to access the causal events affiliatedwith internaldecomposition. Although the results of this studyindicated that the controlgroup members followedBass's (1997) nomenclature while the experimentalgroup progressedaccording to Payne's (1965) nomenclature, bothprogressions revealed generalizedsequential patterns of causal events attributed to autolysis and putrefaction. Such events involving initial indications of generalized skin discoloration,marbling, skin slippage, hair slippage, the purging of fluids, and odor occurredprior to and continued throughoutbloating, while dehydration and skeletoniz.ationwere noted upondeflation and beyond. Adipocereformation, desiccation, and the proliferation of fungiand/or mold were variable. In addition, these patternedevents were influenced by temperature, humidity, rainfall, and sky conditions, which consequentlyaffected the rate of decomposition. vu Research contributions inherentto thisstudy include supportfor regional models basedon patterns of causal events. Contributionsto the death scene investigation involve the recognitionof both the visual/olfactorysignatures attributed to decomposition and natural versus disrupted insect successional patterns, coupled with suggestions forproper environmental datacollection methods. Vlll Table of Contents' Chapter Page 1. Introduction. ................................................... 1 Internal Factors of Human Decomposition: Autolysis and Putrefaction....... 2 Visual and OlfactoryCues Indicative of Human Decomposition......... · ... 3 Progressive Alternativesto Putrefaction............................... 6 Stages of HumanDecomposition ..................................... 7 ExternalFactors that Affectthe Rate of Human Decomposition............. 8 Insects as an Environmental Variable ...........................10 Insects as a SituationalFactor .................................15 Human Decompositionin an Insect-Restricted Environment............... 18 Fulfilling the Role of Death Investigatorin a Legal Setting................ 19 2. Materials and Methods . ..........................................21 Insect-Restricted Environment. ..................................... 21 Human Donations........... ..................................... 25 Documentationof Decomposition................................... 28 Documentationof Insect Activity ..........................· ..........32 Documentationof Environmental Variables ............................33 Temperatureand Humidity............... · ...................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Minnesota Army National Guard Camp Ripley Training Center and Arden Hills Army Training Site
    MINNESOTA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD CAMP RIPLEY TRAINING CENTER AND ARDEN HILLS ARMY TRAINING SITE 2013 CONSERVATION PROGRAM REPORT Cover Photography: Fringed gentian (Gentiana crinita), Camp Ripley Training Center, 2011, Laura May, Camp Ripley Volunteer. Minnesota Army National Guard Camp Ripley Training Center and Arden Hills Army Training Site 2013 Conservation Program Report January 1 – December 31, 2013 Division of Ecological and Water Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Minnesota Army National Guard Compiled by Nancy J. Dietz, Animal Survey Assistant Brian J. Dirks, Animal Survey Coordinator MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES CAMP RIPLEY SERIES REPORT NO. 23 ©2014, State of Minnesota Contact Information: MNDNR Information Center 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 (651) 296-6157 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367) Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (651) 296-5484 1-800-657-3929 www.dnr.state.mn.us This report should be cited as follows: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Army National Guard. 2014. Minnesota Army National Guard, Camp Ripley Training Center and Arden Hills Army Training Site, 2013 Conservation Program Report, January 1-December 31, 2013. Compiled by Nancy J. Dietz and Brian J. Dirks, Camp Ripley Series Report No. 23, Little Falls, MN, USA. 205 pp. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................................... I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Plum Island Biodiversity Inventory
    Plum Island Biodiversity Inventory New York Natural Heritage Program Plum Island Biodiversity Inventory Established in 1985, the New York Natural Heritage NY Natural Heritage also houses iMapInvasives, an Program (NYNHP) is a program of the State University of online tool for invasive species reporting and data New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry management. (SUNY ESF). Our mission is to facilitate conservation of NY Natural Heritage has developed two notable rare animals, rare plants, and significant ecosystems. We online resources: Conservation Guides include the accomplish this mission by combining thorough field biology, identification, habitat, and management of many inventories, scientific analyses, expert interpretation, and the of New York’s rare species and natural community most comprehensive database on New York's distinctive types; and NY Nature Explorer lists species and biodiversity to deliver the highest quality information for communities in a specified area of interest. natural resource planning, protection, and management. The program is an active participant in the The Program is funded by grants and contracts from NatureServe Network – an international network of government agencies whose missions involve natural biodiversity data centers overseen by a Washington D.C. resource management, private organizations involved in based non-profit organization. There are currently land protection and stewardship, and both government and Natural Heritage Programs or Conservation Data private organizations interested in advancing the Centers in all 50 states and several interstate regions. conservation of biodiversity. There are also 10 programs in Canada, and many NY Natural Heritage is housed within NYS DEC’s participating organizations across 12 Latin and South Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 5: Fauna Known to Occur on Fort Drum
    Appendix 5: Fauna Known to Occur on Fort Drum LIST OF FAUNA KNOWN TO OCCUR ON FORT DRUM as of January 2017. Federally listed species are noted with FT (Federal Threatened) and FE (Federal Endangered); state listed species are noted with SSC (Species of Special Concern), ST (State Threatened, and SE (State Endangered); introduced species are noted with I (Introduced). INSECT SPECIES Except where otherwise noted all insect and invertebrate taxonomy based on (1) Arnett, R.H. 2000. American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of North America North of Mexico, 2nd edition, CRC Press, 1024 pp; (2) Marshall, S.A. 2013. Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity, Firefly Books, Buffalo, NY, 732 pp.; (3) Bugguide.net, 2003-2017, http://www.bugguide.net/node/view/15740, Iowa State University. ORDER EPHEMEROPTERA--Mayflies Taxonomy based on (1) Peckarsky, B.L., P.R. Fraissinet, M.A. Penton, and D.J. Conklin Jr. 1990. Freshwater Macroinvertebrates of Northeastern North America. Cornell University Press. 456 pp; (2) Merritt, R.W., K.W. Cummins, and M.B. Berg 2008. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America, 4th Edition. Kendall Hunt Publishing. 1158 pp. FAMILY LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE—Pronggillled Mayflies FAMILY BAETIDAE—Small Minnow Mayflies Habrophleboides sp. Acentrella sp. Habrophlebia sp. Acerpenna sp. Leptophlebia sp. Baetis sp. Paraleptophlebia sp. Callibaetis sp. Centroptilum sp. FAMILY CAENIDAE—Small Squaregilled Mayflies Diphetor sp. Brachycercus sp. Heterocloeon sp. Caenis sp. Paracloeodes sp. Plauditus sp. FAMILY EPHEMERELLIDAE—Spiny Crawler Procloeon sp. Mayflies Pseudocentroptiloides sp. Caurinella sp. Pseudocloeon sp. Drunela sp. Ephemerella sp. FAMILY METRETOPODIDAE—Cleftfooted Minnow Eurylophella sp. Mayflies Serratella sp.
    [Show full text]
  • Identification of the Plants and Animals Illustrated by Mark Catesby for His Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands
    Reveal, J.L. 2013. Identification of the plants and animals illustrated by Mark Catesby for his Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands . Phytoneuron 2013-6: 1–55. Published 28 January 2013. ISSN 2153 733X IDENTIFICATION OF THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS ILLUSTRATED BY MARK CATESBY FOR HIS NATURAL HISTORY OF CAROLINA, FLORIDA AND THE BAHAMA ISLANDS JAMES L. REVEAL L.H. Bailey Hortorium, Department of Plant Biology 412 Mann Library Building Cornell University Ithaca, New York 14853-4301 [email protected] ABSTRACT A revised summary of the organisms illustrated by the English naturalist Mark Catesby in his 1729-1747 Natural history of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands is presented based on the findings of the author and several of the participants who gave papers during the Catesby Tercentennial symposia (4–9 November 2012). This paper updates the findings published earlier by Reveal (2012a). In addition to a full account of the published images, the identity of the organisms illustrated by Catesby and preserved mainly as watercolors at the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, England, is also presented along with indices of scientific names with common names, scientific names arranged by common names, Catesby etching and watercolors arranged by scientific names, and an index to Catesby’s polynomial and common names with references to the published etchings. The purpose of this paper is to provide an up-to-date identification of the plants and animals illustrated by Mark Catesby (1729–1747) in his Natural History and depicted in the currently available original watercolors (Catesby 1996) preserved in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle outside London, England.
    [Show full text]
  • Necrophila Americana, American Carrion Beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) Able Chow, Forest Huval, T.E Reagan and Chris Carlton
    Necrophila americana, American Carrion Beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) Able Chow, Forest Huval, T.E Reagan and Chris Carlton Description Larval American carrion beetles are small-to-medium- sized insects one-fourth to one inch in length (7 to 25 Adult American carrion beetles are medium-sized mm), depending on age. The possess six well-developed beetles one-half to three-fourths of an inch (13 to 20 legs, and the segmented body is heavily armored dorsally mm) in length with an oval, flattened body. The top with black plates. The head is exposed, and a pair of small surface of the thorax (pronotum) is yellow with a central antennae are present. The legs are short and often hidden black spot and fine punctures. The thorax is expanded beneath the body plates. A pair of short appendages laterally but does not cover the head. The hardened (urogomphi) are visible near the end of the abdomen. forewings (elytra) are black, distinctly sculptured, and The eggs are oval, one-seventh to one-tenth of an inch (2 cover the mid and hind legs as well as most of the to 3 mm) in length and are cream colored with a slight abdomen. The head is small with medium sized eyes and greenish tinge. Pupae resemble a pale version of the adult, well-developed, moderately clubbed antennae. Its legs are with the legs retracted and wings folded onto the sides of short and armed with small spines, and most of the time their bodies. The pupae possess pairs of long, erect lateral are tucked beneath the expanded elytra and pronotum.
    [Show full text]
  • Site Profile of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve
    Site Profile of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve Environmental Education Center 505 Guana River Road Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 (904) 823-4500 • Fax (904) 825-6829 Marineland Office 9741 Ocean Shore Blvd St. Augustine, FL 32080 (904) 461-4054 • Fax (904) 461-4056 Site Profile of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve Prepared for: The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve Prepared by: Denis W. Frazel, Ph.D. Frazel, Inc. 233 Estrada Avenue St. Augustine, FL 32084 For more information about this report or to obtain additional copies, contact: Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve Environmental Education Center 505 Guana River Road Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 (904) 823-4500 • Fax (904) 825-6829 Marineland Office 9741 Ocean Shore Blvd St. Augustine, FL 32080 (904) 461-4054 • Fax (904) 461-4056 Internet: http://www.gtmnerr.org Citation: D. Frazel. 2009. Site Profile of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. Ponte Vedra, FL. 151pp. August 2009 Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR) is a partnership between the US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the State of Florida, Department of Environmental Protection. This site profile has been developed in accordance with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regulations. It is consistent with the congressional intent of Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, and the provisions of the Florida Coastal Management Program. August, 2009 The views, statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the State of Florida, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or any of its sub- agencies.
    [Show full text]
  • Making Wisconsin's Airports Safe Again
    Kemp’s Point Volume 22, Number 1, June 2021 News from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Kemp Natural Resources Station Making Wisconsin’s Airports Safe Again By Karla Ortman A Civil Air Patrol plane hits a buck in velvet at the vide a safer place for pilots? Fortunately, they now Stevens Point Municipal Airport. A sandhill crane have Michael Menon, whose goal is to make Wis- is ingested into the engine of a CESSNA landing at consin’s airports as safe as possible with regard to the Middleton Municipal Airport. A plane is totaled wildlife mitigation. when it collides with a buck during landing at the ---------------- Tomahawk Regional Airport. Through the lens of a thermal imaging camera, the three deer appear as white shapes with glowing These incidents are costly not only to the owner eyes. They are alert and keep a close watch on the of the plane, but also to the airport. The repairs truck with it’s flashing yellow light and the humans on the CESSNA was $130 shy of a million dollars. nearby. It is a cool but pleasant May evening, my Small, general aviation airports rely on income from second visit to the Tomahawk Regional Airport hanger rental, landing and departure fees, and fuel with Michael for his monthly night survey. sales. If an airport develops a reputation of having wildlife hazards, use can decrease and affect income. Michael visits nine general aviation airports once a And let’s not forget the animal that lost its life. month where he completes a wildlife survey in the morning, afternoon and at night.
    [Show full text]
  • Pdf Preview of 100 Insects
    • PORTRAITS & STORIES • by Norman and Cheryl Lavers Copyright ©2018 Norman and Cheryl Lavers Images and Text by Norman and Cheryl Lavers Edited by Erin Wood Cover & Layout Design by Amy Ashford, ashford-design-studio.com ISBN: 978-1-944528-93-5 Library of Congress Control Number: INSERT Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of reviews. Contact publisher for permission under any circumstances aside from book reviews. Et Alia Press titles are available at special discounts when purchased in quantity directly from the Press. For details, contact [email protected] or the address below. Published in the United States of America by Et Alia Press PO Box 7948 Little Rock, AR 72217 etaliapressbooks @gmail.com etaliapress .com Table of Contents INTRODUCTION pg 5 SECTION 1: Beetles pg 7–17 SECTION 2: True Bugs pg 18–24 SECTION 3: Grasshoppers pg 25–31 SECTION 4: Dragonflies pg 32–39 SECTION 5: Miscellaneous Insects pg 40–47 SECTION 6: Lepidoptera pg 48–59 SECTION 7: Wasps, Bees & Ants pg 60–71 SECTION 8: Flies pg 72–94 SECTION 9: Aphids pg 95–101 REFERENCES & FURTHER READING pg 102–103 ABOUT THE AUTHORS pg 104 For Gareth We want to thank Jeffrey Hoeper for looking at parts of this MS and making useful suggestions. And special thanks to Herschel Raney for inspiring us at the beginning of this century with his website Random Natural Acts, and insisting that we get digital cameras.
    [Show full text]
  • Nomans Land Island National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan September 2010
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Nomans Land Island National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan September 2010 Nomans Land Island Cliffs Erin Victory/TCI This goose, designed by J.N. “Ding” Darling, has become the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 150-million acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 550 national wildlife refuges and thousands of waterfowl production areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, administers the Endangered Species Act, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance Program which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies. Comprehensive Conservation Plans provide long term guidance for management decisions and set forth goals, objectives, and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes and identify the Service’s best estimate of future needs. These plans detail program planning levels that are sometimes substantially above current budget allocations and, as such, are primarily for Service strategic planning and program prioritization purposes. The plans do not constitute a commitment for staffing increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Nomans Land Island National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan Septmeber 2010 Refuge Vision Statement We envision Nomans Land Island NWR to be a vital and unique maritime resource for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway.
    [Show full text]
  • Coleoptera: Silphidae) Community in Indiana
    2015. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 124(2):124–128 DOI: TEMPORAL SURVEY OF A CARRION BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: SILPHIDAE) COMMUNITY IN INDIANA Charity G. Owings1 and Christine J. Picard: Department of Biology, Indiana University- Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA ABSTRACT. Carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) play an important role in vertebrate decomposition as they utilize carcasses to carry out their life cycles. These beetles represent novel models for behavioral ecology, and can act as important forensic indicators in death investigations. However, population and community dynamics of silphids in Indiana are currently outdated. The aim of this study is to update surveys of a single silphid community with high temporal resolution in order to explore diversity and abundance patterns over time. Beetles were collected from Purdue University multiple times (N 5 13) over a period of seven months in order to assess population dynamics at a single site. A total of 1607 specimens constituting seven different species were collected. Species abundance over time and space changed dramatically, and only one species (Nicrophorus tomentosus Weber) was present in nearly all collections (eleven out of thirteen, June–October 2014). It was demonstrated that the community dynamics of silphids at a single site in Indiana aligns with previous studies in the state. Additionally, the community structure of this family appears to change drastically over time in the summer months. Keywords: Silphidae, carrion, forensic entomology, Nicrophorus tomentosus INTRODUCTION shape) and resource utilization. Nicrophorine beetles (“Burying Beetles”) not only directly con- After death, a vertebrate carcass assumes the sume the carcass (necrophagy), but also bury it role of a quality, yet highly ephemeral, nutrient for their offspring, thereby preventing intruders resource that is utilized by insects and other from “stealing” the carcass (Trumbo 1990).
    [Show full text]
  • Minnesota Army National Guard Camp Ripley Training Center and Arden Hills Army Training Site
    MINNESOTA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD CAMP RIPLEY TRAINING CENTER AND ARDEN HILLS ARMY TRAINING SITE 2014 CONSERVATION PROGRAM REPORT Cover Photography: Radio-transmittered, female northern long-eared myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), Camp Ripley Training Center, 2014. Photography by Chris Smith, MNDNR Nongame Region 3. Minnesota Army National Guard Camp Ripley Training Center and Arden Hills Army Training Site 2014 Conservation Program Report January 1 – December 31, 2014 Division of Ecological and Water Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Minnesota Army National Guard Compiled by Nancy J. Dietz, Animal Survey Assistant Brian J. Dirks, Animal Survey Coordinator MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES CAMP RIPLEY SERIES REPORT NO. 24 ©2015, State of Minnesota Contact Information: MNDNR Information Center 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 (651) 296-6157 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367) Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (651) 296-5484 1-800-657-3929 www.dnr.state.mn.us This report should be cited as follows: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Army National Guard. 2015. Minnesota Army National Guard, Camp Ripley Training Center and Arden Hills Army Training Site, 2014 Conservation Program Report, January 1-December 31, 2014. Compiled by Nancy J. Dietz and Brian J. Dirks, Camp Ripley Series Report No. 24, Little Falls, MN, USA. 208 pp. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .....................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • (ATBI) Project
    NEWPORT FOREST CHECKLIST OF BIOTA Last update: August 11 2011 WARNING: This list is very much a work in progress. Some of the taxonomic arrangements and labels require revision, names have to checked, and so on. The following list contains information on all species observed or collected in Newport Forest since the property was acquired in June of 2000. A few records from prior years are included, but not counted. We thank the many expert individuals who have assisted us with the ATBI survey. The list below must be considered a work in progress. This includes not only the additions of new species to the list, but occasional revisions or refinements of the taxonomic backbone within each of the larger groups Each entry consists of a common name, scientific name, and a three-part code that reflects the locale in which the species was observed or collected, the name of the collector (lower case initials) concatenated with the name of the identifier (upper case initials), and the date the species was collected or observed. In cases where the identifier was also the observer/collector, only one name appears. (See the Personnel Codes at end of document.) Scientific names or portions thereof are placed in square brackets where the identification is uncertain. Typically, this device is used when reference materials are incomplete; the name in square brackets reflecting the species in our references that most closely matched the characters of the specimen observed or collected. It may be assumed that a majority of species so named are named correctly, although assuredly not all of them.
    [Show full text]