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Abstract

The aim of this research study was to critically evaluate the effect different aquatic environments; saltwater, and freshwater, had on insect succession and the rate of decomposition. A controlled decompositional study was conducted over a three-month period, between April 13th and July 13th, 2021, in rural Upavon, Wiltshire, England. This study used three piglet carrion: one being used as a control, deposited on land, the other cadavers were placed into manmade aquatic environments; one cadaver was placed into a container filled with freshwater collected from a local river, the other being placed into a container filled with seawater collected from Southsea, Portsmouth. Various observational and entomological data was collected from each of the carrion throughout the research period. This experiment concluded that both aquatic environments, delayed the decomposition process, notably the saltwater environment taking longer to reach each decomposition stage. Moreover, the aquatic environments within this study caused a delay in insect attraction across all species collected, when compared to the terrestrial control. Delay in oviposition was seen in Calliphora vicina and Calliphora vomitoria from the saltwater submerged cadaver, when compared to the terrestrial control, suggesting that the delay in reaching the floating decomposition stage, caused a delay in arthropod detection, attraction, and consequently oviposition. Further research is required to fully understand the impact that various water environments have on arthropod activity, and decomposition. 

Course: Criminal Justice - MSc - C2681F

Date Deposited: 2021-11-23

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13742.html