NCJ Number
226000
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 41 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2008 Pages: 199-207
Date Published
December 2008
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined the differences in vegetation structure and species composition on grave sites in an environment that was dominated by weed flora.
Abstract
Regarding vegetation species composition, the most obvious difference between the graves and undisturbed sites was the presence of large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) and witch grass (Panicum capillare) on the grave sites. Neither of these species was found outside the grave locations. This suggests that these species have strong potential to be indicators of grave disturbance in southern Ontario (Canada) where this study was conducted. Future studies will examine the robustness of these two species as grave indicators over different seasons and environments. The type of plant that colonizes a disturbed grave site at any given time or location will depend on the species in the area that are distributing seed at the time of disturbance or the type of seed present in the soil seed bank. Botanical differences due to disturbance of the soil may persist for several years; Bock and Norris report that changes in vegetation can be identified more than two decades after the event. The burial of pig carcasses for a decomposition study in southern Ontario provided the opportunity to investigate the botanical species associated with grave sites in this region over the summer season of 2006. The study area was surveyed weekly for all plant species. The grave sites were also surveyed weekly for all plant species. All species rooted in the delineated grave area were recorded. Comparison was made between plants growing on the graves and, where possible, plants growing in the undisturbed study area. Any observable difference in height, vigor, flowering pattern, fruiting pattern, or plant color was photographed. 1 table, 2 figures, and 17 references