The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Effects of Carcass Size on Decay Rates of Shade and Sun Exposed Carrion
Abstract
Entomological studies using pig carrion as models for human decomposition have utilized carcasses 27 kg or smaller, with a recommended weight of 23 kg. A preliminary study was conducted during the summer months in the Edmonton, Alberta area to determine the effect of carcass size on the rate of decomposition. Fourteen clothed pigs, ranging in size from small (19–26 kg) to medium (36–80 kg) to large (156–162 kg), were decayed in shaded and sun exposed environments. Results show that the smaller carcasses in both environments decayed significantly faster than the medium and larger carcasses, reaching dry skeletal remains in as little as 13 days. Comparisons with established rates of human decomposition, obtained from the records of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Edmonton, suggest that the small sized carcasses are not an appropriate model for human decay rates in the central Alberta region. Results also suggest that decomposition rates may vary significantly between juveniles and adults in humans.
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“body size seems to affect decomposition in various ways [145 -149].”
From Forensic experiments on animal scavenging: A systematic literature review on what we have and what we need (2023) · cites this paper as [149]
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Research works printed but not linked: 12
- Anderson G.S., 1996, J. Forensic Sci., 41, 617, 10.1520/JFS13964J · DOI
- Schoenly K., 1991, J. Forensic Sc., 36, 1395, 10.1520/JFS13161J · DOI
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- Dillon L.C., 1997, Insect succession on carrion in three biogeoclimatic zones in British Columbia. Master's Thesis, Simon Fraser University
- Rodriguez W.C., 1983, J. Forensic Sci., 28, 423, 10.1520/JFS11524J · DOI
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Indra, L., Lösch, S., Errickson, D., & Finaughty, D. (2023) · Forensic Science International · doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111862 · Cited by 18
Metadata
- Authors
- Komar, D., & Beattie, O.
- Affiliations
- University of Alberta (CA)
- ORCID
- Komar, D.
- Venue
- Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1998-01
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 35-43
- ISSN
- 0008-5030 (ISSN-L)
- 2332-1660
- OpenAlex
- W2098684028
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 0.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Diptera species taxonomy and behavior
- Keywords
- carcass size, carrion decomposition, decomposition rate, pig carcasses, human decomposition, decomposition model, sun exposure, shade, skeletal remains, forensic entomology
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