Forensic Ecology Research Articles

Association of Myianoetus sp. (Acari: Histiostomatidae) with necrophagous fly Compsomyiops fulvicrura (Diptera: Calliphoridae), in the Prepuna ecoregion (Jujuy: Argentina)

The genus Myianoetus Oudemans (Acari: Histiostomatidae) is commonly associated with carrion, utilizing flies (Diptera) from various families as a means of dispersal through phoresy. The objective of this paper is to present a new association between Myianoetus sp. mites and Calliphoridae flies and discuss its relevance in forensic sciences. Samples were collected in 3 locations in the Prepuna ecoregion of Jujuy, Argentina. Specimens were captured using necrotraps baited with cow lung. Flies carrying phoretic mites were separated and identified to a specific level, while mites were counted and identified at the lowest possible taxonomic level. Compsomyiops fulvicrura (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was the only species that presented attached mites, with an average intensity of 12.26 mites per fly. The mites carried by C. fulvicrura were identified as deutonymphs of Myianoetus sp., with a prevalence of 2.56% of infested flies. Significant differences in the abundance of flies with mites were observed between locations and seasons. This article represents the first contribution to knowledge on the specific association between Myianoetus sp. and C. fulvicrura. These findings in forensic ecology are relevant for their potential contribution and application in the development of more precise methods in specific forensic cases.

On the Tasks of Forensic Ecology

The article analyses the concept of “a forensic examination’s task” as one of the fundamental terms of forensic expertology. The author demonstrates that it is a part of a broader concept of “the subject of forensic examination”. She also reviews the classification of tasks of forensic examination.Next, the article addresses the tasks of forensic ecological examination, which by their nature, as a rule, are diagnostic. The author presents their definition as a set of actions common to this kind of forensic analysis, formed by an expert based on the questions posed to him. These actions are implemented by converting potential evidentiary information about the negative anthropogenic impact on environmental objects contained in the case materials submitted for examination into up-to-date evidentiary information.

Organizational, Legal and Methodological Issues of Forensic Ecology in the EAEU Countries

The article addresses the current state of forensic ecology in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Belarus. The author has analyzed the relevant publications and the data of the official websites of forensic organizations conducting this type of forensic examination. The article presents the methods used by forensic ecologists, highlights the problems they face.The paper also reveals the unequal level of forensic ecology in Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Belarus; simultaneously, it shows that the need for its improvement is recognized in all these countries. Finally, the author notes that for such a development, mutual exchange of experience is essential, as well as the validation of methodological materials developed primarily in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, with a view to their application in other countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, especially when conducting forensic examinations in cases related to the cross-border negative anthropogenic impact on environmental objects.

Optimising engagement between forensics & policing: Avoiding the dialogue of the deaf

Forensic science is increasing in the scale and scope of available or emergent capabilities to aid criminal investigations. Concurrently, investigations are increasing in complexity, with disciplines such as forensic ecology having an input into police work. The many specialisms comprising forensic ecology are helping authorities to counteractthe trans-national and inter-jurisdictional criminal operations which are driven by global interconnectedness and the Internet. These factors, when combined with a rise in public oversight, and the media’s unrealistic expectation that all crimes are solvable, produce a challenging environment for police investigators. This paper explores the author’s experience of effective communication between police investigators and forensic practitioners and reflects on an emergent consultancy model of engagement. This option presents a change in the police operating environment, often with improved investigative outcomes.

Predicting provenance of forensic soil samples: Linking soil to ecological habitats by metabarcoding and supervised classification.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is increasingly applied in ecological studies, including studies with the primary purpose of criminal investigation, in which eDNA from soil can be used to pair samples or reveal sample provenance. We collected soil eDNA samples as part of a large national biodiversity research project across 130 sites in Denmark. We investigated the potential for soil eDNA metabarcoding in predicting provenance in terms of environmental conditions, habitat type and geographic regions. We used linear regression for predicting environmental gradients of light, soil moisture, pH and nutrient status (represented by Ellenberg Indicator Values, EIVs) and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA) to predict habitat type and geographic region. eDNA data performed relatively well as a predictor of environmental gradients (R2 > 0.81). Its ability to discriminate between habitat types was variable, with high accuracy for certain forest types and low accuracy for heathland, which was poorly predicted. Geographic region was also less accurately predicted by eDNA. We demonstrated the application of provenance prediction in forensic science by evaluating and discussing two mock crime scenes. Here, we listed the plant species from annotated sequences, which can further aid in identifying the likely habitat or, in case of rare species, a geographic region. Predictions of environmental gradients and habitat types together give an overall accurate description of a crime scene, but care should be taken when interpreting annotated sequences, e.g. due to erroneous assignments in GenBank. Our approach demonstrates that important habitat properties can be derived from soil eDNA, and exemplifies a range of potential applications of eDNA in forensic ecology.

Freshwater diatom transfer to clothing: Spatial and temporal influences on trace evidence in forensic reconstructions

Environmental indicators are increasingly sought and analysed in a range of forensic reconstructions. Although the majority of casework and research studies are concerned with the criminal investigation of terrestrial habitats (soils, sediments, plants etc.), freshwater environments are also frequently encountered as crime scenes. As such, microalgae, particularly diatoms, may provide useful circumstantial trace evidence following their transfer to a victim or perpetrator. Diatom analysis is a relatively underused technique in forensic ecology, although an increased empirical research focus is beginning to recognise the evidential value of a transferred assemblage. This study aimed to examine three of the spatial and temporal variables known to influence the extent of an initial transfer of trace particulates, within the context of freshwater diatoms to clothing. A series of experiments were designed to consider the impact of recipient surface characteristics (clothing type), source environment conditions (seasonality), and morphological (type of diatom) variability, on the total number (no. per cm2) and species richness (total no. sp.) of an evidential diatom sample recovered from clothing. Nine commonly used clothing materials were immersed in a freshwater river at three times of year – the early and late spring and in the winter. Diatoms were recovered using a H2O2 extraction technique and examined microscopically. The results demonstrated that diatom transfer to clothing varies significantly, with a greater abundance and a higher species richness transferred to coarse woven surfaces including acrylic, linen, and viscose. Significantly fewer diatoms were transferred to clothing in the winter, in line with seasonal fluctuations in the source environment diatom community. Furthermore, variation in the relative abundance of particular diatom species was identified between clothing types, provisionally suggesting that morphological characteristics may also support or limit the transfer of material. These findings highlight that, although clothing may offer a valuable repository of freshwater diatom trace evidence, the interpretation of evidential material should be approached within an exclusionary framework. Thus, empirical data has been generated to develop evidence bases within forensic ecology, demonstrating some of the spatial and temporal factors which may contribute to or limit the transfer of evidence.

R.S. Belkin and the Establishment of Forensic Biology and Forensic Ecology

Professor R.S. Belkin's role in the development of criminology and forensic science is widely recognized. The theory he advanced to connect criminalistics and the natural sciences was of great importance for the establishment of new forensic disciplines. During his time as head of the department of forensic science theory Professor Belkin focused on newly emerging fields of forensic research and the development of their theoretical foundations. His vision was marked by a deep understanding that ecology is a subfield of biology, but forensic ecology is not part of forensic biology. It is largely due to his talent to anticipate the emergence of new trends in response to the needs of investigative practice that these forensic disciplines were established and continue to develop.

Развитие судебной экологии как способ борьбы с экологическими преступлениями

Развитие судебной экологии как способ борьбы с экологическими преступлениями

Review of: Forensic Ecology Handbook from Crime Scene to CourtREFERENCE: Márquez‐GrantN, RobertsJ. Forensic Ecology Handbook from Crime Scene to Court. Chichester, West Sussux, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2012, 242 pp.

Review of: <i>Forensic Ecology Handbook from Crime Scene to Court</i>REFERENCE: Márquez‐GrantN, RobertsJ. Forensic Ecology Handbook from Crime Scene to Court. Chichester, West Sussux, UK: John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd, 2012, 242 pp.

Coleta e preparação de pêlos de mamíferos para identificação em microscopia óptica

Hair microstructure is a useful tool to identify mammals and is applied in several disciplines such as forensic sciences, ecology, epidemiology, arqueology and paleontology. The methods applied to collect and prepare mammal hairs to identify them under the optical microscopy are many and range from the most cheap and rapid to the most expensive and laborious. The present study aims to test different methods to collect, clean and prepare mammal hairs for cuticular and medullar patterns observation under optical microscopy, to compare these methods to the literature and to describe in detail a new suggested method. To prepare the reference collection, hairs were collected from the back of identified museum specimens with known collecting localities. Cuticular impressions were obtained pressing hairs against a thin nail varnish layer let dry for 15 to 20 minutes on glass slides. In order to observe the medullar pattern, hairs were submitted to diafanization with comercial oxigenated water 30 volumes for 80 minutes. Permanent glass slides were mounted with Entellan and temporary ones with glicerin. The advantages of this method are the easy aquisition and handling of the material and the practical execution, enabling its use in the field.

Ecologists, Environmental Litigation, and Forensic Ecology

Ecologists, Environmental Litigation, and Forensic Ecology

The use of Analytical Chemistry in some fields of general education

The use and significance of Analytical Chemistry for fields of general science is outlined and illustrated by several examples (rocks and minerals, food and drugs, forensic science, environment and ecology, gold and silver objects).