NCJ Number
184332
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 45 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2000 Pages: 836-842
Date Published
July 2000
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Decomposition studies conducted at two sites on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, compared patterns of decomposition and arthropod invasion in intertidal and adjacent terrestrial habitats.
Abstract
The research used the domestic pig as the animal model. One site was on Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay on the northeast side of Oahu; the second study took place in an anchialine pool located at Barber’s Point Naval Air Station on the southwest shore of Oahu. At both sites, the terrestrial animal decomposed in a manner similar to hat observed in previous studies in terrestrial habitats on the island of Oahu. The rate of biomass depletion was slower in both intertidal studies; decomposition occurred mainly due to tide and wave activity and bacterial decomposition. No permanent colonization of carcasses by insects occurred on the intertidal carcass at Coconut Island. Diptera larvae were responsible for biomass removal at the anchialine pool at Barber’s Point Naval Air Station at Coconut Island until the carcass was reduced below the water line and, from that point on, bacterial action was the means of decomposition. Marine and terrestrial scavengers were present at both sites, although their impact on decomposition was negligible. Five stages of decomposition were recognized for the intertidal sites: (1) fresh, (2) buoyant/floating, (3) deterioration/disintegration, (4) buoyant remains, and (5) scattered skeletal. Figures, tables, and 20 references (Author abstract modified)