Abstract
The burial of a cadaver results in reduced arthropod activity and disruptions in colonisation patterns. Here, the distribution and diversity of mite taxa was studied across decomposition stages of shallowly buried pig carcasses (Sus scrofa domesticus). In total 300 mites (88 species) were collected from three pig shallow graves compared to 129 mites (46 species) from control (bare) soil samples at the same depth. A successional pattern of Acari higher taxa and families was observed, and species richness and biodiversity fluctuated throughout decomposition, whereas active decay showed the greatest biodiversity. Mesostigmata mites were the most abundant in ‘cadaver soils’ with a significant difference in the abundance of Parasitidae mites, whereas Oribatida mites (true soil mites) were the most abundant in control soils. Certain mite species were significantly associated with decay stages: Cornigamasus lunaris with ‘bloated’, Gamasodes spiniger with ‘active’, Eugamasus sp. and Lorryia reticulata with ‘advanced’, and Macrocheles matrius and Ramusella clavipectinata in ‘dry’. Scheloribates laevigatus was a marker of bare soil at a shallow depth and Vulgoramasus remberti of buried decomposition, not specific to any decay stage. Analysis of mite assemblages associated with head, torso and posterior body showed that Parasitus evertsi and M. matrius are attracted to beneath the thighs, whereas L. reticulata to beneath the head. This study highlights the value of mites as indicator species of decomposition and its stages, confirming (1) a succession of Acari on buried remains and (2) species specificity to body regions.
Highlights
The burial of a cadaver results in interrupted insect activity and colonisation patterns, making it difficult to use insect evidence for time of death estimations
The present study demonstrates that the biodiversity of mites in cadaver soils was higher during each decay stage compared to the corresponding control soils, apart from during the fresh stage
The research presented here allows for a greater understanding of the colonisation patterns of mite species and their value as markers of decay stages in shallow graves
Summary
The burial of a cadaver results in interrupted insect activity and colonisation patterns, making it difficult to use insect evidence for time of death estimations. In such cases, evaluation of the composition and successive patterns of colonisation by the soil mite taxa can become more valuable. The majority of studies on the acaro-fauna (mites) of cadavers are focused on surface decomposition whilst the mite fauna of buried remains is relatively unexplored Collectively these studies have demonstrated that as the soil environment undergoes continuous physical and chemical changes correlated to each phase of decay, the abundance and diversity of mites in the surrounding soil changes and faunal succession of mite species occurs. More recent investigations of coffin burials have reported the occurrence of mites during early decay stages (Bourel et al 2004; Mariani et al 2014) to late stages (Mariani et al 2017; Merritt et al 2007)
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