The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Debugging Decomposition Data—Comparative Taphonomic Studies and the Influence of Insects and Carcass Size on Decomposition Rate
Abstract
Abstract: Comparison of data from a variety of environments and ambient temperatures has previously been difficult as few studies used standardized measures of time/temperature and decomposition. In this paper, data from previous studies and recent experiments are compared using simple conversions. These conversions allow comparison across multiple environments and experiments for the first time. Plotting decomposition score against logADD allows the exponential progression of decomposition to be expressed as a simple linear equation. Data comparison from many environments and temperatures shows no difference in decomposition progression when measured using Accumulated Degree Days. The major effector of change in rate was insect presence, regardless of depositional environment, species, or season. Body size is significant when carcasses are accessed by insects; when insects are excluded, while bodies are indoors, submerged, or buried, then decomposition progresses at the same rate regardless of body size.
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Body size seems to affect decomposition in various ways.
“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 [146]
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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
- Simmons, T., Adlam, R. E., & Moffatt, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Lancashire (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Simmons, Tal
- Venue
- Journal of Forensic Sciences
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-01
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 8-13
- ISSN
- 0022-1198 (ISSN-L)
- 1556-4029
- OpenAlex
- W2011434315
- Cited by
- 241
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 6.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Forensic Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CLOK (University of Central Lancashire) (acceptedVersion)
- 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
- decomposition rate, taphonomy, insect activity, carcass size, accumulated degree days, ambient temperature, forensic entomology
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Burial, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Diptera, Environment, Feeding Behavior, Postmortem Changes, Regression Analysis, Temperature, Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Pathology
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