Decomposition studies using animal models in contrasting environments: Evidence from temporal changes in soil chemistry and microbial activity

Stokes, KL; Forbes, SL; Benninger, LA; Carter, DO; Tibbett, M

Decomposition studies using animal models in contrasting environments: Evidence from temporal changes in soil chemistry and microbial activity

Stokes, KL Forbes, SL

Benninger, LA Carter, DO Tibbett, M

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Publication Type:: Chapter
Citation:: Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 2009, pp. 357 - 377
Issue Date:: 2009-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Stokes, KL	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Forbes, SL https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7416-0080	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Benninger, LA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Carter, DO	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Tibbett, M	en_US
dc.date.issued	2009-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 2009, pp. 357 - 377	en_US
dc.identifier.isbn	9781402092039	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/29957
dc.description.abstract	© 2009 Springer Science + Business Media B.V. Traditionally, soil evidence in forensic science has focused predominantly on the transference of soil particles from a victim or suspect and a crime scene. However, a recent increase in forensic taphonomy research has highlighted the potential of soil to provide key information to an investigation involving decomposed remains. A decomposing carcass can release a significant pulse of nutrients into the surrounding soil (gravesoil) resulting in the retention of decomposition products in the soil for a considerable period of time. In order to understand the complex associations between a decomposing carcass and the soil system, research must be conducted in both controlled laboratory environments and outdoor field environments. This chapter discusses two contrasting decomposition studies which aimed to investigate the cadaver/soil interaction. The first study investigated the decomposition of small mouse carcasses buried in soil and was conducted within a controlled laboratory environment in Western Australia. The second study investigated the decomposition of large pig carcasses placed on the soil surface and was conducted in an outdoor field environment in southern Ontario. Both studies investigated a range of decomposition products particularly focusing on carbon-based, nitrogen-based and phosphorus-based compounds as these were considered to offer the most valuable information to address the research questions. The results of both studies provide the opportunity to comment on the effect of carcass size, soil type and decomposition environment on the influx of decomposition products into the soil.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/978-1-4020-9204-6_23	en_US
dc.title	Decomposition studies using animal models in contrasting environments: Evidence from temporal changes in soil chemistry and microbial activity	en_US
dc.type	Chapter
utslib.for	0399 Other Chemical Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CFS - Centre for Forensic Science
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US

Abstract:

© 2009 Springer Science + Business Media B.V. Traditionally, soil evidence in forensic science has focused predominantly on the transference of soil particles from a victim or suspect and a crime scene. However, a recent increase in forensic taphonomy research has highlighted the potential of soil to provide key information to an investigation involving decomposed remains. A decomposing carcass can release a significant pulse of nutrients into the surrounding soil (gravesoil) resulting in the retention of decomposition products in the soil for a considerable period of time. In order to understand the complex associations between a decomposing carcass and the soil system, research must be conducted in both controlled laboratory environments and outdoor field environments. This chapter discusses two contrasting decomposition studies which aimed to investigate the cadaver/soil interaction. The first study investigated the decomposition of small mouse carcasses buried in soil and was conducted within a controlled laboratory environment in Western Australia. The second study investigated the decomposition of large pig carcasses placed on the soil surface and was conducted in an outdoor field environment in southern Ontario. Both studies investigated a range of decomposition products particularly focusing on carbon-based, nitrogen-based and phosphorus-based compounds as these were considered to offer the most valuable information to address the research questions. The results of both studies provide the opportunity to comment on the effect of carcass size, soil type and decomposition environment on the influx of decomposition products into the soil.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/29957