DIPLOMARBEIT Titel der Diplomarbeit „Successional patterns of necrophilous beetles on domestic pig carcasses in urban and sylvan areas during spring and summer – a comparative study between four study sites in and around Vienna“ Verfasser Anatole Johannes Patzak angestrebter akademischer Grad Magister der Naturwissenschaften (Mag.rer.nat.) Wien, 2011 Studienkennzahl lt. A 444 Studienblatt: Studienrichtung lt. Ökologie Studienblatt: Betreuer: O. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hannes Paulus Ao. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Reiter “I have always looked upon decay as being just as wonderful and rich an expression of life as growth.” Henry Miller 1 INDEX 1. ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... 5 Zusammenfassung ......................................................................................................... 7 2. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Forensic entomology ................................................................................................ 9 2.2 Carrion ecology ...................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1 Characteristics of a carcass ............................................................................... 11 2.2.2 Carrion as a habitat ........................................................................................... 11 2.2.3 Stages of decomposition ................................................................................... 11 2.2.3.1 First decomposition stage (DS1): Fresh stage ........................................... 11 2.2.3.2 Second decomposition stage (DS2): Bloated stage ................................... 11 2.2.3.3 Third decomposition stage (DS3): Active decay stage .............................. 12 2.2.3.4 Fourth decomposition stage (DS4): Advanced decay stage ..................... 12 2.2.3.5 Fifth decomposition stage (DS5): Dry/Remains stage .............................. 12 2.3 Insect succession on carrion ................................................................................... 12 2.4 Guilds ..................................................................................................................... 13 2.4.1 Necrophaga – carrion feeders ........................................................................... 14 2.4.2 Necrolesta – carrion-associated predators ........................................................ 14 2.4.3 Saprophaga – feeders upon decaying animal and plant matter ........................ 14 2.4.4 Sugkuria – random guests................................................................................. 15 2.5 Study objectives ...................................................................................................... 15 3. THE STUDY SITES .......................................................................................................... 16 3.1 Climate and classification of the natural space ...................................................... 16 3.2 Vienna and the Vienna Woods ................................................................................ 16 3.2.1 Study site “Narrenturm – inner city” ................................................................ 18 3.2.2 Study site “Sternwartepark – suburb” ............................................................... 20 3.2.3 Study site “Schottenhof – oak forest” ............................................................... 21 3.2.4 Study site “Schottenhof – beech grove” ........................................................... 23 4. MATERIAL AND METHODS ............................................................................................. 25 4.1 The carcasses .......................................................................................................... 25 4.2 Site setup ................................................................................................................ 26 2 4.2.1 The purpose-built racks .................................................................................... 26 4.2.2 Rack-mouted traps ........................................................................................... 27 4.2.3 Pitfall traps ....................................................................................................... 27 4.2.4 Temperature measurement ............................................................................... 28 4.2.5 Precipitation measurement ............................................................................... 28 4.3 Photographs ............................................................................................................ 29 Further field protocol ............................................................................................ 29 4.4 Sampling period ..................................................................................................... 29 4.5 Identification of species ......................................................................................... 30 5. RESULTS ...................................................................................................................... 31 5.1 Temperature & rainfall data ................................................................................... 31 5.2 Decomposition ....................................................................................................... 31 5.3 Full range of beetle species trapped at the study sites ........................................... 33 5.4 Range of species relevant for the study ................................................................. 35 Pitfall trap contents vs. rack-mounted trap contents .............................................. 35 5.5 Spring vs. Summer ................................................................................................. 39 5.5.1 Species' seasonal preferences ........................................................................... 39 5.5.2 Families' seasonal preferences ......................................................................... 39 Families' seasonal preferences according to locations ..................................... 40 5.5.3 Succession of families ...................................................................................... 42 5.5.3.1 Spring succession pattern in weeks ............................................................ 42 5.5.3.2 Summer succession pattern in weeks ......................................................... 45 5.5.3.3 Pattern of families' presence during the stages of decay ............................ 46 5.5.4 Comparison of species' succession spring – summer ....................................... 49 5.5.4.1 Comparison spring – summer of species' presence based on calendar weeks ........................................................................................... 49 5.5.4.2 Comparison spring – summer of species' presence during the stages of decay ........................................................................................... 55 5.6 Urban vs. Sylvan .................................................................................................... 56 5.6.1 Family succession in terms of calendar weeks ................................................ 57 5.6.2 Family succession in regard of decay stages .................................................... 61 6. DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................. 62 6.1 Temperature data & decomposition ....................................................................... 62 6.2 Collected beetles .................................................................................................... 63 3 6.3 Succession .............................................................................................................. 65 6.4 Pitfall vs. rack-mounted traps ................................................................................. 69 6.5 Spring vs. Summer ................................................................................................. 69 6.6 Urban vs. Sylvan .................................................................................................... 71 6.7 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 71 6.8 Further research ...................................................................................................... 72 7. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................... 73 8. LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... 74 9. LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. 78 10. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 79 11. ADDENDUM: Temperature curves with precipitation and decay stages ...................... 84 Raw data Spring .................................................................................... 92 Raw data Summer ............................................................................... 110 12. LEBENSLAUF ............................................................................................................ 120