ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effects of burning on the richness, abundance, and community structure of necrophagous flies in southern Brazil. Flies were collected over a period of seven days in the field, and were subsequently observed for 60 days in the laboratory. There were three bovine liver treatments: unburnt, burnt, and gasoline-treated (control). A total of 2,501 flies, representing 14 families and 41 species, were identified, including Chrysomya albiceps, Fannia subgroup pusio, Synthesiomyia nudiseta, and Fannia femoralis. While the abundance of flies was similar across the three treatments, exhibiting a quadratic distribution, species richness displayed a quadratic trend with a significant temporal shift; peak richness occurred 20 hours earlier in the unburnt liver than in the burnt or the control treatments. Both total abundance and patterns of community composition in our analysis indicated important factors to take into account. Total abundances were similar between the burnt and unburnt treatments, demonstrating a uniform ecological response to burning, irrespective of the condition of the liver. In contrast, the community composition of these treatments showed a significant divergence from the control treatment, which was distinctively dominated by Drosophilidae and Phoridae. These findings are crucial for accurate postmortem Interval (PMI) estimations in forensic entomology, particularly in cases involving burnt remains, and highlight the significant impact of fire on necrophagous fly communities.
Keywords:
Forensic entomology; Richness; Abundance; Community Calliphoridae; Fanniidae
Introduction
The colonization patterns of animal cadavers vary distinctly between burnt and unburnt corpses (Catts and Goff, 1992Catts, E.P., Goff, M.L., 1992. Forensic entomology in criminal investigations. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37, 253-272. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.37.010192.001345.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.37.01...
). Additionally, there is a delay in the colonization of burnt compared to unburnt cadavers.
In forensic entomology, the late arrival of colonizers at a corpse may cause bias in the estimate of postmortem Interval (PMI) (Campobasso et al., 2001Campobasso, C.P., Di Vella, G., Introna, F., 2001. Factors affecting decomposition and Diptera colonization. Forensic Sci. Int. 120, 18-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0379-0738(01)00411-X.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0379-0738(01)00...
). Insects, especially flies, are employed in the estimation of PMI in two ways: (i) since flies often lay eggs within minutes or hours after death, the biological cycles of necrophagous Diptera (Byrd and Castner, 2010Byrd, J.H., Castner, J.L., 2010. Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations Forensic Entomology, 2nd ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 681pp.) can be used to estimate the time-since-death by ascertaining the degree of development of the oldest maggots feeding on the corpse (Smith, 1986Smith, K.G.V.A., 1986 Manual of Forensic Entomology. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, USA, 205 pp.; Catts, 1992Catts, E., 1992. Problems in estimating the postmortem interval in death investigations. J. Agric. Entomol. 9, 245-255.); (ii) if the local successional patterns are known, it is possible to infer the PMI by ascertaining the wave of colonization depending on the stage of decomposition (Battán Horenstein et al., 2010Battán Horenstein, M., Linhares, A.X., Rosso De Ferradas, B., García, D., 2010. Decomposition and dipteran succession in pig carrion in central Argentina: ecological aspects and their importance in forensic science. Med. Vet. Entomol. 24, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.2009.00854.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.2009...
; Tomberlin et al., 2011Tomberlin, J.K., Benbow, M.E., Tarone, A.M., Mohr, R.M., 2011. Basic research in evolution and ecology enhances forensics. Trends Ecol. Evol. 26, 53-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2010.12.001.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2010.12.0...
).
However, several factors can introduce bias in estimating the PMI using insect biology and succession data. One significant source of bias is the reliance on assumptions that are not always valid (Tomberlin et al., 2011Tomberlin, J.K., Benbow, M.E., Tarone, A.M., Mohr, R.M., 2011. Basic research in evolution and ecology enhances forensics. Trends Ecol. Evol. 26, 53-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2010.12.001.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2010.12.0...
), and for this reason, understanding these assumptions and their potential impact on PMI estimations is crucial.
Another source of bias is the influence of external factors on insect colonization and development. Temperature, humidity, and environmental conditions can affect the rate of insect colonization and rate of development on a corpse, influencing the estimation of the PMI (Acikgoz, 2016Acikgoz, H.N., 2016. Malpractices concerning collection of forensic entomological evidence and importance of standardization in Turkey. Forensic Res. Criminol. Int. J. 3 (1), 237-241. https://doi.org/10.15406/frcij.3.1.
https://doi.org/10.15406/frcij.3.1...
; Franceschetti et al., 2021Franceschetti, L., Pradelli, J., Tuccia, F., Giordani, G., Cattaneo, C., Vanin, S., 2021. Comparison of accumulated degree-days and entomological approaches in post mortem interval estimation. Insects 12 (3), 264. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12030264.
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12030264...
). The presence of drugs, toxins, or conditions that deeply affect the body (e.g., burning, wrapping in clothing) can also influence the timing of insect arrival and succession, further complicating PMI estimations (Amendt et al., 2011Amendt, J., Richards, C., Campobasso, C., Zehner, R., Hall, M., 2011. Forensic entomology: applications and limitations. Forensic Sci. Med. Pathol. 7 (4), 379-392. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-010-9209-2.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-010-9209-...
).
Moreover, bias in PMI calculations may be introduced by the absence of standard research procedures and the variation in experimental designs used in forensic entomology investigations. To guarantee the accuracy and consistency of the entomological data utilized for PMI assessment, research techniques must be standardized (Tomberlin et al., 2012Tomberlin, J.K., Byrd, J.H., Wallace, J.R., Benbow, M.E., 2012. Assessment of decomposition studies indicates need for standardized and repeatable research methods in forensic entomology. J. Forensics Res. 3, 147.). A lack of standardized protocols can lead to inconsistencies in PMI estimations based on insect biology and succession data.
While extensive research has been conducted to understand the factors influencing estimations using insect biology, significant gaps remain, particularly concerning the effects of fire on necrophagous communities. The existing literature, such as studies by Avila and Goff (1998)Avila, F., Goff, M.L., 1998. Arthropod succession patterns onto burnt carrion in two contrasting habitats in the Hawaiian Islands. J. Forensic Sci. 43, 581-586. https://doi.org/10.1520/jfs16184j.
https://doi.org/10.1520/jfs16184j...
, Pai et al. (2007)Pai, C.Y., Jien, M.C., Li, L.H., Cheng, Y.Y., Yang, C.H., 2007. Application of forensic entomology to postmortem interval determination of a burned human corpse: A homicide case report from Southern Taiwan. J. Formos. Med. Assoc. 106, 792-798. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60043-1.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60...
, Gruenthal et al. (2012)Gruenthal, A., Moffatt, C., Simmons, T., 2012. Differential decomposition patterns in charred versus un-charred remains. J. Forensic Sci. 57, 12-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01909.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011...
, and Oliveira-Costa et al. (2014)Oliveira-Costa, J., Lamego, C., Couri, M., Mello-Patiu, C., 2014. Differential Diptera succession patterns onto partially burned and unburned pig carrion in southeastern Brazil. Braz. J. Biol. 74, 870-876. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.06113.
https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.06113...
, underscores the complexity of assessing PMI in cases involving burnt remains.
Different animal models have been utilized to observe the effect of burning on necrophagous fauna. For instance, although it is widely accepted that the decomposition of domestic pig bodies weighing more than 23 kg follows similar stages to that of human bodies (Catts and Goff, 1992Catts, E.P., Goff, M.L., 1992. Forensic entomology in criminal investigations. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37, 253-272. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.37.010192.001345.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.37.01...
), caution is advised when extrapolating findings from experiments with bovine liver (McIntosh et al., 2017McIntosh, C.S., Dadour, I.R., Voss, S.C., 2017. A comparison of carcass decomposition and associated insect succession onto burnt and unburnt pig carcasses. Int. J. Legal Med. 131, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1464-7.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1464-...
). While useful for determining richness and abundance patterns in ephemeral systems, these studies have limitations when applied to scenarios involving burnt substrates.
Biases in PMI estimations are notably pronounced when dealing with burnt substrates due to the altered necrophagous communities and the atypical environmental conditions they introduce. This highlights the need for standardized research methods to better account for these unique variables, ultimately improving the accuracy of PMI estimations in forensic entomology.
This study explored the impact of burnt substrates on the community structure of necrophagous flies. The following hypotheses were tested: (i) Species richness and abundance are greater in unburnt animal remains than in burnt remains when the latter have a repulsive effect on fly species. This can happen for example when gasoline is used in the burning process (Charabidze et al., 2009Charabidze, D., Bourel, B., Hedouin, V., Gosset, D., 2009. Repellent effect of some household products on fly attraction to cadavers. Forensic Sci. Int. 189, 28-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.04.009.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2009...
; Rumiza et al., 2010Rumiza, A.R., Khairul, O., Zuha, R.M., Heo, C.C., 2010. An observation on the decomposition process of gasoline-ingested monkey carcasses in a secondary forest in Malaysia. Trop. Biomed. 27 (3), 373-383.). (ii) If the repulsive effect is not significant, the necrophagous communities in burnt and unburnt remains are expected to be similar. (iii) The temporal patterns of species richness and abundance differ between unburnt and burnt remains. Burning creates a thin and rigid layer over the carcass, preventing the volatilization of gases that attract necrophagous flies (Tomberlin et al., 2011Tomberlin, J.K., Benbow, M.E., Tarone, A.M., Mohr, R.M., 2011. Basic research in evolution and ecology enhances forensics. Trends Ecol. Evol. 26, 53-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2010.12.001.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2010.12.0...
).
Methods
Study area
This study was carried out in the “Horto Botânico Irmão Teodoro Luis” (HBITL), “Universidade Federal de Pelotas” (UFPEL), in the municipality of Capão do Leão, geographical coordinates: 31º48’49” S and 52º25’53” W (Fig. 1 in the supplementary material). It is an area of 25 ha and border of 3,315 meters. The vegetation there is part of the Pampa Biome, characterized by shrub and herbaceous pioneer formations typical of the lagoon complex (Venzke, 2012Venzke, T.S., 2012. Florística de comunidades arbóreas no Município de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. Rodriguésia 63, 571-578.). The subtropical climate is strongly influenced by the proximity to the ocean and by high levels of humidity (average 80.7%) and moderate temperature fluctuations throughout the year. The average temperature ranges between 12.3º and 23.2°C, with the lowest temperatures occurring in July and the highest occurring in January and February (Estação Agroclimatológica de Pelotas, 2013Estação Agroclimatológica de Pelotas, 2013. Available in: http://www.cpact.embrapa.br/agromet/estacao/boletim.html/ (accessed 20 July 2013).
http://www.cpact.embrapa.br/agromet/esta...
). The average rainfall is well distributed throughout the year (106 mm/month) (INMET, 2018INMET, 2018. Available in: http://www.inmet.gov.br/projetos/rede/pesquisa/gera_serie_txt_mensal.php?&mRelEstacao=83985&btnProcesso=serie&mRelDtInicio=01/01/2013&mRelDtFim=31/12/2013&mAtributos=,1,/ (accessed 11 April 2018).
http://www.inmet.gov.br/projetos/rede/pe...
).
Animal remains used in the traps for the collection of insects in the Horto Botânico Irmão Teodoro Luis (HBITL), Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPEL), in the municipality of Capão do Leão. Unburnt, unburnt bovine liver; Burnt, burnt bovine liver; Control, bovine liver with gasoline.
Manufacture and installation of traps
The trap model used was modified from the one proposed by Hwang and Turner (2005)Hwang, C., Turner, B.D., 2005. Spatial and temporal variability of necrophagous Diptera from urban to rural areas. Med. Vet. Entomol. 19, 379-391. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.2005.00583.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.2005...
. Plastic buckets with a capacity of 20 liters were perforated at the bottom to prevent water accumulation. Two holes of 6.5 cm in diameter each were made at 2 cm from the top edge of the bucket to serve to couple the collector bottles. Two other openings with exact measurements were made in the bucket cover. They were subsequently bonded fabric voile type, allowing air circulation, light entry, and preventing visitor insect escape. Tipper-like openings 15 cm wide by 4 cm high were made on the sides of the bucket, 12 cm from the bottom. These bottom apertures were above those made at the top and were intended to allow colonizers of the systems to enter. The collector bottles were made from two plastic jars with threaded caps and 700 ml capacity each. The caps of the jars were screwed together in the inner portion, thereby creating a hole for the passage of insects. This opening was fitted and fixed to the lateral orifice of the bucket so that the two holes remained attached, forming a corridor from one container to the other (Fig. 2 in the supplementary material).
Generalized linear models with Poisson distribution and Quasipoisson correction Species Richness (A) and Abundance (B) of visitor necrophagous species community at HBITL, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Burnt, burnt bovine liver; Control, bovine liver with gasoline; Unburnt, unburnt bovine liver.
In the field, traps were filled with 8 cm of soil and the substrates were placed on the soil. The soil was used to maintain moisture and for insect pupariation sites. The trap was closed on top and sealed with tape; then, it was suspended by a wire holder and secured with nylon rope 1.5 m from the soil. The traps were kept at a minimum distance of 50 m from each other (Fig. 2 in the supplementary material).
Field experiment
Four sites representing analytical blocks were selected. Three traps were installed per block. Each trap was filled with 1000 g of one of the tree baits: (i) unburnt bovine liver (unburnt); (ii) bovine liver burnt for five minutes with 500 mL of gasoline (burnt) (Fig. 1); and (iii) unburnt bovine liver with 500 mL of gasoline (control).
Traps were installed on January 14, 2013 (summer), and they remained in the field for seven days. The traps were observed twice daily: at 10 a.m., when the bottles were filled with 70% alcohol, and at 2 p.m., when the bottles were removed and the flies were collected. The relative humidity (RH) ranged from 73 to 82%, and the mean temperature ranged from 25.5 to 29.6°C.
After the 7th day, the traps were transferred from the field to the laboratory under controlled conditions (25°C and 75% RH).
Fly species determination
Most of the identification of adult flies followed Albuquerque et al. (1981)Albuquerque, D.D.O., Pamplona, D., Carvalho, C.J.B., 1981. Contribuição ao conhecimento dos Fannia R-D, 1830 da região neotropical (Diptera, Fanniidae). Arch. Mus. Nac. 56, 9-34., Carvalho and Ribeiro (2000)Carvalho, C.J.B., Ribeiro, P.B., 2000. Chave de identificação das espécies de Calliphoridae (Diptera) do sul do Brasil. Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet. 9, 169-173., Carvalho and Couri (2002)Carvalho, C.J.B., Couri, M.S., 2002 Part I. Basal groups. In: Carvalho, C.J.B. (ed.). Muscidae (Diptera) of the Neotropical Region: taxonomy. Editora Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil, pp. 17-132., Couri and Carvalho (2002)Couri, M.S., Carvalho, C.J.B., 2002. Part II. Apical groups. In: Carvalho, C.J.B. (Ed.), Muscidae (Diptera) of the Neotropical Region: Taxonomy. Editora Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, pp. 133-262., Brown and Kung (2007Brown, B., Kung, G.A., 2007. Revision of the New World Dohrniphora Dahl species with hind tibial setae (Diptera: phoridae). Arthropod Syst. Phylogeny 65, 155-235. https://doi.org/10.3897/asp.65.e31675.
https://doi.org/10.3897/asp.65.e31675...
, 2010Brown, B.V., Kung, G.A., 2010. Revision of the New World Dohrniphora Dahl species lacking large hind tibial setae (Diptera: phoridae). Zootaxa 2699, 1-142. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2699.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2699.1....
), Carvalho and Mello-Patiu (2008)Carvalho, C.J.B., Mello-Patiu, C.A., 2008. Key to adults of the most common forensic species of Diptera in South America. Rev. Bras. Entomol. 52, 390-406. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262008000300012.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-5626200800...
, Disney (2008)Disney, R.H.L., 2008. Review of neotropical Chonocephalus Wandolleck (Diptera: phoridae). Zootaxa 1772, 1-54. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1772.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1772.1....
, Wendt and Carvalho (2009)Wendt, L.D., Carvalho, C.D., 2009. Taxonomia de Fanniidae (Diptera) do sul do Brasil–II: Novas espécies e chave de identificação de Fannia Robineau-Desvoidy. Rev. Bras. Entomol. 53, 171-206., Vairo et al. (2011)Vairo, K.P., de Mello-Patiu, C.A., de Carvalho, C.J.B., 2011. Pictorial identification key for species of Sarcophagidae (Diptera) of potential forensic importance in southern Brazil. Rev. Bras. Entomol. 55, 333-347. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262011005000033.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-5626201100...
, and Carvalho et al. (2012)Carvalho, C.J.B., Rafael, J.A., Couri, M.S., Silva, V.C., 2012. Diptera. In: Rafael, J.A., Melo, G.A.R., Carvalho, C.J.B., Casari, S.A., Constantino, R. (eds.). Insetos do Brasil. Holos, Ribeirão Preto, pp. 701–744.. The Rhinotoridae family was determined by Dra. Júlia Calhau Almeida (Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo), Mycetophilidae by Dra. Sarah Siqueira Oliveira (Universidade Federal de Goiás), Fanniidae by Dra. Lisiane Dilli Wendt (Universidade Federal do Paraná), and Drosophilidae by Dr. Carlos Ribeiro Vilela (Universidade de São Paulo).
Data Analysis
The data matrix was divided into the richness and abundance of necrophagous adult fly visitors and the colonizers.
The data matrix on necrophagous adult flies was built based on the adults of each species, which were collected daily using the field traps. A data matrix colonizer was constructed containing information on the species that developed from each experiment outlined in methods. This distinction is significant because some species visit carcasses solely to feed and are not ready for oviposition or to face high competition in a homogeneous and limiting space. In contrast, species ready for oviposition will lay eggs or larvae that will develop within this system, thereby altering its dynamics.
To test hypothesis (i), we ascertained the influence of the treatment (unburnt, control, and burnt) and days of colonization on the species richness and abundance. Due to the replicability (N=4 blocks or replicates), tests of normality were not performed for the colonizers, and the data were analyzed using generalized linear models (GLMs) with a Poisson distribution, considering the Quasi likelihood of abundance due to the overdispersion of data. To analyze the impact of different systems and exposure days on species richness and abundance, we used a GLM with a Poisson distribution. We accounted for data dispersion using a Quasi-likelihood approach for abundance.
To address potential differences in the composition of the necrophagous fly community, we assessed the similarity/dissimilarity of community composition across treatments using nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) on a Bray-Curtis similarity matrix followed by a PERMANOVA test for each matrix (visitors and colonizers). We performed the statistical analyses using the R program and the community analysis packages “vegan” and “MASS” (R Development Core Team, 2018R Development Core Team, 2018. R: a language and environment for statisti- cal computing. Available in: http://www.R-project.org (accessed 11 April 2018).
http://www.R-project.org...
; Oksanen et al., 2020Oksanen, J.F., Blanchet, G., Friendly, M., Kindt, R., Legendre, P., McGlinn, D., Minchin, P.R., O’Hara, R.B., Simpson, G.L., Solymos, P., Stevens, M.H.H., Szoecs, E., Wagner, H., 2020. vegan: Community Ecology Package. R package version 2.5-7. Available in: https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=vegan (accessed 11 April 2018).
https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=vegan...
).
Results
A total of 2.501 flies were collected, representing 14 families distributed in 41 species and morphospecies. Calliphoridae and Fanniidae were the most abundant, with 1.069 and 480 specimens, respectively. Among the colonizers, the most abundant species were Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) (n=1006), Fannia subgroup pusio (n=272), Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp, 1883) (n=188) and Fannia femoralis (Stein, 1898) (n=166) (Table 1).
Diptera collected in the “Horto Botânico” in the three systems: liver plus gasoline (LG), unburnt liver (LN), and burnt liver (LB). *NA: necrophagous flies adults. C: flies colonizers
Richness and abundance of necrophagous adult flies in the traps
The richness exhibited a quadratic statistical model relationship with time (Chi1;79=174.217, P<0.001, Fig. 2A), with different patterns among the unburnt (P<0.001) and burnt plus control treatments (P = 0.345). The highest richness occurred 20 to 24 h earlier in the unburnt treatment than in the burnt plus control treatments (Chi2;77=50.451, P<0.001). The abundance differed among all the treatments (Chi2;80=12.20, P=0.002), showing a quadratic model over time (Chi1;79= 797.26, P<0.001, Fig. 2).
Richness and abundance of colonizers
The richness (Chi2;9=9.061; P=0.011) and abundance (Chi2;9 = 1244.9; p < 0.001) of colonizers differed between the treatments. According to the GLM showing the effect of the treatment on colonizer species richness, the control treatment (unburnt bovine liver with gasoline) differed from the other treatments (p = 0.017), exhibiting lower richness (Fig. 3A). There was no significant difference between the unburnt and burnt treatments (p = 0.773). According to the GLM for abundance, the three treatments were significantly different from each other, with unburnt showing the highest abundance (p = 0.013), followed by the burnt treatment (p = 0.001) and the control treatment (p = 0.001) (Fig. 3B).
Generalized linear models with Poisson distribution to Species Richness (A) and Abundance (B) of colonizer necrophagous species community at HBITL, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Burnt, burnt bovine liver; Control, bovine liver with gasoline; Unburnt, unburnt bovine liver.
Composition
The fly species composition differed between the control and unburnt plus burnt treatments in the visitor communities (PERMANOVA test, F2;9 = 2.106; p = 0.021) and the colonizer communities (PERMANOVA test, F2;8 = 2.011, p = 0.037). These differences were visualized using NMDS as a dimension reduction technique to illustrate the species composition among the three treatments (Fig. 4). The unburnt and burnt treatments shared the most abundant species (Table 1), such as C. albiceps, F. pusio, F. femoralis, S. nudiseta, and specimens of Milichidae (Table 1, Fig. 4). In contrast, the control treatment was colonized by D. willistoni and D. melanogaster. Drosophilids dominated the composition of the control treatment, while the scuttle flies did not colonize it.
Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination map of similarity/dissimilarity for species composition of (A) visitor necrophagous adult flies and (B) colonizer communities at HBITL, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) in the three different systems. Burnt, burnt bovine liver; Control, bovine liver with gasoline; Unburnt, unburnt bovine liver.
Discussion
Our findings indicate that burning did not directly affect the community composition of necrophagous flies in southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. However, the timing of species colonization differed between the two treatments (burnt and unburnt). And while species richness was not affected by the treatment, abundance did, suggesting partial support for hypothesis (i). Furthermore, the timing of colonization was influenced by the treatments: there was greater species richness earlier in the unburnt than in the burnt and the control treatment, supporting hypothesis (iii). The community composition in the control treatment differed markedly from the other treatments, in agreement with hypothesis (ii). Both the unburnt and burnt shared many colonizing species, confirming hypothesis (ii)
Our data, derived from experiments using bovine liver, present specific challenges compared to other studies that utilized different animal models with various biomasses and often had low replication samples (Avila and Goff, 1998Avila, F., Goff, M.L., 1998. Arthropod succession patterns onto burnt carrion in two contrasting habitats in the Hawaiian Islands. J. Forensic Sci. 43, 581-586. https://doi.org/10.1520/jfs16184j.
https://doi.org/10.1520/jfs16184j...
; Anderson, 2005Anderson, G.S., 2005. Effects of arson on forensic entomology evidence. J. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. 38, 49-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/00085030.2005.10757584.
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; Chin et al., 2008Chin, H.C., Marwi, M.A., Salleh, A.F.M., Jeffery, J., Kurahashi, H., Omar, B., 2008. Study of insect succession and rate of decomposition on a partially burned pig carcass in an oil palm plantation in Malaysia. Trop. Biomed. 25, 202-208.; Vanin et al., 2009Vanin, S., Caenazzo, L., Arseni, A., Cecchetto, G., Cattaneo, C., Turchetto, M., 2009. Records of Chrysomya albiceps in Northern Italy: an ecological and forensic perspective. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 104, 555-557. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762009000400003.
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; Oliveira-Costa et al., 2014Oliveira-Costa, J., Lamego, C., Couri, M., Mello-Patiu, C., 2014. Differential Diptera succession patterns onto partially burned and unburned pig carrion in southeastern Brazil. Braz. J. Biol. 74, 870-876. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.06113.
https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.06113...
; Mashaly, 2016Mashaly, A.M.A., 2016. Entomofaunal succession patterns on burnt and unburnt rabbit carrion. J. Med. Entomol. 53, 296-303. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjv202.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjv202...
). The main challenges are to ensure consistent samples and to control the burning process. Variations in the decomposition and attraction of insects that feed on dead organisms can occur due to differences in biomass and tissue composition in different animal models. Additionally, studies with low replication can lead to increased variability and less reliable data.
Using bovine liver in our experiments promoted consistency, and allowed for better control of the burning process. This consistency ensured more reliable results by providing uniform samples, which helped reduce the error rates and variability previously noted by McIntosh et al. (2017)McIntosh, C.S., Dadour, I.R., Voss, S.C., 2017. A comparison of carcass decomposition and associated insect succession onto burnt and unburnt pig carcasses. Int. J. Legal Med. 131, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1464-7.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1464-...
. Moreover, the sample size in our study provided a robust data set that increased the reliability and validity of our findings, giving us a broader perspective on the community structure and colonization patterns of necrophagous flies. Our findings sometimes diverge from those of previous research. For example, while some studies reported earlier oviposition on burnt remains (Avila and Goff, 1998Avila, F., Goff, M.L., 1998. Arthropod succession patterns onto burnt carrion in two contrasting habitats in the Hawaiian Islands. J. Forensic Sci. 43, 581-586. https://doi.org/10.1520/jfs16184j.
https://doi.org/10.1520/jfs16184j...
; Pai et al., 2007Pai, C.Y., Jien, M.C., Li, L.H., Cheng, Y.Y., Yang, C.H., 2007. Application of forensic entomology to postmortem interval determination of a burned human corpse: A homicide case report from Southern Taiwan. J. Formos. Med. Assoc. 106, 792-798. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60043-1.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60...
; McIntosh et al., 2017McIntosh, C.S., Dadour, I.R., Voss, S.C., 2017. A comparison of carcass decomposition and associated insect succession onto burnt and unburnt pig carcasses. Int. J. Legal Med. 131, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1464-7.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1464-...
), others have observed it occurring later (Chin et al., 2008Chin, H.C., Marwi, M.A., Salleh, A.F.M., Jeffery, J., Kurahashi, H., Omar, B., 2008. Study of insect succession and rate of decomposition on a partially burned pig carcass in an oil palm plantation in Malaysia. Trop. Biomed. 25, 202-208.; Oliveira-Costa et al., 2014Oliveira-Costa, J., Lamego, C., Couri, M., Mello-Patiu, C., 2014. Differential Diptera succession patterns onto partially burned and unburned pig carrion in southeastern Brazil. Braz. J. Biol. 74, 870-876. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.06113.
https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.06113...
; Mahat et al., 2016Mahat, N.A., Zainol-Abidin, N.L., Nordin, N.H., Abdul-Wahab, R., Jayaprakash, P.T., 2016. Patterns of oviposition and development of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on burned rabbit carcasses. Forensic Sci. Int. 260, 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.12.047.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015...
). These discrepancies likely stem from variations in the burning intensity and the experimental models employed. In our experiments, burning caused the external surface of the bovine liver to dry out and form a crust.
This crust potentially prevents the release of chemical attractants, as suggested by Wardle (1921)Wardle, R.A., 1921. The protection of meat commodities against blowflies. Ann. Appl. Biol. 8, 1-9. and Oliveira-Costa et al. (2014)Oliveira-Costa, J., Lamego, C., Couri, M., Mello-Patiu, C., 2014. Differential Diptera succession patterns onto partially burned and unburned pig carrion in southeastern Brazil. Braz. J. Biol. 74, 870-876. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.06113.
https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.06113...
. The formation of a crust on burnt corpses may impede the release of chemical attractants during decomposition, as observed in the burnt liver. This crust could act as a barrier, hindering the diffusion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that attract insects (Dekeirsschieter et al., 2009Dekeirsschieter, J., Verheggen, F., Gohy, M., Hubrecht, F., Bourguignon, L., Lognay, G., Haubruge, É., 2009. Cadaveric volatile organic compounds released by decaying pig carcasses (Sus domesticus l.) in different biotopes. Forensic Sci. Int. 189 (1-3), 46-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.03.034.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2009...
; Schotsmans et al., 2012Schotsmans, E., Denton, J., Dekeirsschieter, J., Ivaneanu, T., Leentjes, S., Janaway, R., Wilson, A., 2012. Effects of hydrated lime and quicklime on the decay of buried human remains using pig cadavers as human body analogues. Forensic Sci. Int. 217 (1-3), 50-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.09.025.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2011...
; Pascual et al., 2017Pascual, J., Hoermann, C., Rottler-Hoermann, A., Nevo, O., Geppert, A., Sikorski, J., Overmann, J., 2017. Function of bacterial community dynamics in the formation of cadaveric semiochemicals during in situ carcass decomposition. Environ. Microbiol. 19 (8), 3310-3322. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13828.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13828...
; Boros et al., 2020Boros, G., Czeglédi, I., Erős, T., Preiszner, B., 2020. Scavenger‐driven fish carcass decomposition and phosphorus recycling: laboratory experiments with freshwater fish and crayfish. Freshw. Biol. 65 (10), 1740-1751. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13576.
https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13576...
; Newsome et al., 2021Newsome, T., Barton, B., Buck, J., DeBruyn, J., Spencer, E., Ripple, W., Barton, P., 2021. Monitoring the dead as an ecosystem indicator. Ecol. Evol. 11 (11), 5844-5856. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7542.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7542...
). Tomberlin et al. (2011)Tomberlin, J.K., Benbow, M.E., Tarone, A.M., Mohr, R.M., 2011. Basic research in evolution and ecology enhances forensics. Trends Ecol. Evol. 26, 53-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2010.12.001.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2010.12.0...
highlighted the pre-colonization interval, which begins at death and extends until arthropods colonize the remains, suggesting that factors affecting this interval (such as microbial presence inhibiting oviposition) are crucial. This interval includes the detection and acceptance phases, where flies respond to stimuli from the remains.
In this context, the crust formed on burned corpses could impact the attraction phase by limiting the dispersal of VOCs and chemical signals. The attraction of necrophagous insects and vertebrate scavengers to carrion is primarily driven by cadaveric odor, which plays a crucial role in this process (Cláudia-Ferreira, 2023Cláudia-Ferreira, A., 2023. The future is now: unraveling the expanding potential of human (necro) microbiome in forensic investigations. Microorganisms 11 (10), 2509. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11102509.
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11...
). The presence of a crust may interfere with the normal progression of decomposition by affecting the release of these crucial attractants, potentially delaying the arrival of insects as observed in the analysis of visitors. During decomposition, the attraction phase involves the release of chemical signals that draw insects in. If a crust forms, it could impede the diffusion of these attractants, altering the natural course of decomposition.
The release of these cadaveric VOCs influences the succession of insects visiting the carcass, with different species being attracted to the cadaver at various stages of decomposition (Michaud et al., 2010Michaud, J., Majka, C., Privé, J., Moreau, G., 2010. Natural and anthropogenic changes in the insect fauna associated with carcasses in the north american maritime lowlands. Forensic Sci. Int. 202 (1-3), 64-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.04.028.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2010...
; Johansen et al., 2013Johansen, H., Solum, M., Knudsen, G., Hågvar, E., Norli, H., Aak, A., 2013. Blow fly responses to semiochemicals produced by decaying carcasses. Med. Vet. Entomol. 28 (1), 26-34. https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12016.
https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12016...
). This was not observed in the similarity analyses of the communities in the burnt and unburnt treatments. Furthermore, the decomposition of carrion not only attracts insects but also influences the demography of scavenger populations, interactions, and ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and disease moderation (Walker et al., 2021Walker, M., Uribasterra, M., Asher, V., Getz, W., Ryan, S., Ponciano, J., Blackburn, J., 2021. Factors influencing scavenger guilds and scavenging efficiency in southwestern Montana. Sci. Rep. 11 (1), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83426-3.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83426...
). The process of decomposition creates well-defined cadaver decomposition islands, with microbial activity contributing to the attraction of scavengers and the recycling of nutrients (Boros et al., 2020Boros, G., Czeglédi, I., Erős, T., Preiszner, B., 2020. Scavenger‐driven fish carcass decomposition and phosphorus recycling: laboratory experiments with freshwater fish and crayfish. Freshw. Biol. 65 (10), 1740-1751. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13576.
https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13576...
).
However, at higher levels of burning on this scale, where organs and viscera are exposed, a greater attraction of flies to burnt carcasses is generally expected, as reported by Campobasso et al. (2001)Campobasso, C.P., Di Vella, G., Introna, F., 2001. Factors affecting decomposition and Diptera colonization. Forensic Sci. Int. 120, 18-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0379-0738(01)00411-X.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0379-0738(01)00...
and Vanin et al. (2009)Vanin, S., Caenazzo, L., Arseni, A., Cecchetto, G., Cattaneo, C., Turchetto, M., 2009. Records of Chrysomya albiceps in Northern Italy: an ecological and forensic perspective. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 104, 555-557. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762009000400003.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-0276200900...
. Nonetheless, observations by Mahat et al. (2016)Mahat, N.A., Zainol-Abidin, N.L., Nordin, N.H., Abdul-Wahab, R., Jayaprakash, P.T., 2016. Patterns of oviposition and development of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on burned rabbit carcasses. Forensic Sci. Int. 260, 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.12.047.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015...
at level 3 of the CG scale challenge this assumption. Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya rufifacies were found to delay oviposition by one day in corpses burnt to CGS level 3 when compared to control carcasses in the study done by Mahat et al. (2016)Mahat, N.A., Zainol-Abidin, N.L., Nordin, N.H., Abdul-Wahab, R., Jayaprakash, P.T., 2016. Patterns of oviposition and development of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on burned rabbit carcasses. Forensic Sci. Int. 260, 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.12.047.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015...
. CGS levels 1 and 2 showed no signs of this delay. Comparatively speaking, the CGS level 3 burnt carcasses were drier and had less bodily fluids that were leaking than the control and CGS levels 1 and 2. The decomposing smell coming from the carcass, which is one of the main things that draws flies, was probably lessened by the increased charring of tissues at CGS level 3. These results show the variety of parameters impacting fly attraction and oviposition on burnt corpses, challenging the notion that higher burning levels inevitably result in increased attraction of flies to carcasses.
Our study corroborates the critical role of burning in influencing colonization and abundance in forensic entomology, consistent with previous work by Catts and Goff (1992)Catts, E.P., Goff, M.L., 1992. Forensic entomology in criminal investigations. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37, 253-272. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.37.010192.001345.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.37.01...
, Introna et al. (1998)Introna, F., Campobasso, C., Di Fazio, A., 1998. Three case studies in forensic entomology from Southern Italy. J. Forensic Sci. 43, 210-214. https://doi.org/10.1520/jfs16117j.
https://doi.org/10.1520/jfs16117j...
, Anderson (2010)Anderson, G.S., 2010. Factors That Influence Insect Succession on Carrion. In: Byrd J.H., Castner J.L. (Eds.), Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 143–176., and Amendt et al. (2007)Amendt, J., Campobasso, C.P., Gaudry, E., Reiter, C., LeBlanc, H.N., J.R. Hall, M., 2007. Best practice in forensic entomology - Standards and guidelines. Int. J. Legal Med. 121, 90-104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-006-0086-x.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-006-0086-...
. Despite conflicting results regarding the impact of burning on early colonization stages, our research supports the hypothesis that fire does not significantly prevent fly colonization, as similar richness and abundance patterns were observed across both burnt and unburnt treatments.
Our comparative analysis revealed that both burnt and unburnt bovine liver provide more favorable habitats for necrophagous species such as blowflies, little houseflies, and houseflies than does unburnt liver treated with gasoline, where the community composition shifted toward drosophilid and scuttle flies. This pattern of similarity in the communities between burnt and unburnt (untreated) liver corroborates earlier observations reported by Avila and Goff (1998)Avila, F., Goff, M.L., 1998. Arthropod succession patterns onto burnt carrion in two contrasting habitats in the Hawaiian Islands. J. Forensic Sci. 43, 581-586. https://doi.org/10.1520/jfs16184j.
https://doi.org/10.1520/jfs16184j...
and Chin et al. (2008)Chin, H.C., Marwi, M.A., Salleh, A.F.M., Jeffery, J., Kurahashi, H., Omar, B., 2008. Study of insect succession and rate of decomposition on a partially burned pig carcass in an oil palm plantation in Malaysia. Trop. Biomed. 25, 202-208. and highlights the adaptability of certain species to environments after burning.
The most prevalent species in our study, such as C. albiceps, F. pusio, F. femoralis, and S. nudiseta, along with other members of the Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Fanniidae, and Sarcophagidae families, have previously been associated with decomposing animal remains in southern Brazil (Vianna et al., 1998Vianna, E.E.S., Brum, J.G.W., Ribeiro, I.B., Berne, M.E.A., Silveira Junior, P., 1998. Synanthropy of Calliphoridae (Diptera) in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet. 7, 141-147.; Souza et al., 2008Souza, A.S.B., Kirst, F.D., Krüger, R.F., 2008. Insects of forensic importance from Rio Grande do Sul state in southern Brazil. Rev. Bras. Entomol. 52, 641-646. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262008000400016.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-5626200800...
; Azevedo and Krüger, 2013Azevedo, R.R., Krüger, R.F., 2013. The influence of temperature and humidity on abundance and richness of Calliphoridae (Diptera) | A influência da temperatura e umidade na abundância e na riqueza de Calliphoridae (Diptera). Iheringia Ser. Zool. 103, 145-152. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0073-47212013000200010.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0073-4721201300...
; Zafalon-Silva et al., 2014Zafalon-Silva, Â., Hoffmeister, C.H., Anjos, V.A., Ribeiro, P.B., Krüger, R.F., 2014. Necrophagous Diptera associated with wild animal carcasses in southern Brazil. Rev. Bras. Entomol. 58, 337-342.). Notably, C. albiceps is recognized as the most important forensic indicator in southern Brazil, Uruguay, and parts of Argentina (Souza et al., 2008Souza, A.S.B., Kirst, F.D., Krüger, R.F., 2008. Insects of forensic importance from Rio Grande do Sul state in southern Brazil. Rev. Bras. Entomol. 52, 641-646. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262008000400016.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-5626200800...
; Aballay et al., 2008Aballay, F.H., Murua, A.F., Acosta, J.C., Centeno, N.D., 2008. Primer registro de artropodofauna cadavérica em sustratos humanos y animales en San Juan, Argentina. Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 67, 157-163., 2012Aballay, F.H., Murua, A.F., Acosta, J.C., Centeno, N.D., 2012. Succession of carrion fauna in the arid region of San Juan Province, Argentina and Its Forensic Relevance. Neotrop. Entomol. 41, 27-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-011-0005-9.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-011-0005-...
; Krüger et al., 2010Krüger, R.F., Kirst, F.D., de Souza, A.S.B., 2010. Rate of development of forensically-important Diptera in southern Brazil. Rev. Bras. Entomol. 54, 624-629. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262010000400014.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-5626201000...
; Patitucci et al., 2015Patitucci, L.D., Mulieri, P.R., Do Mínguez, M.C., Mariluis, J.C., 2015. An inventory of saprophagous Calyptratae (Insecta: Diptera) in urban green spaces of Buenos Aires City. Rev. Mus. Argent. Cienc. Nat., 17, 97–107. https://doi.org/10.22179/revmacn.17.385
https://doi.org/10.22179/revmacn.17.385...
; Mulieri et al., 2015Mulieri, P.R., Patitucci, L.D., Olea, M.S., 2015. Sex-biased patterns of saprophagous Calyptratae (Diptera) collected with different baits of animal origin. J. Med. Entomol. 52, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjv031.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjv031...
; Castro et al., 2019Castro, M., Centeno, N., González-Vainer, P., 2019. An initial study of insect succession on pig carcasses in open pastures in the northwest of Uruguay. Forensic Sci. Int. 302, 109837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.05.053.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019...
; Remedios-DeLeon et al., 2019Remedios-DeLeon, M., Castro, M., Morelli, E., 2019. Artropodofauna cadavérica associada a Sus scrofa L. en el sur de Uruguay. Bol. Soc. Zool. Urug. 28, 21-28.). These findings reinforce that these species are also crucial forensic indicators for burned organic remains.
In conclusion, this study clearly demonstrated how fire influences the colonization patterns and community dynamics of necrophagous flies, which are crucial elements in forensic entomology. While fire affects the timing of colonization and can change habitat suitability, it does not significantly reduce fly colonization in terms of species richness and abundance. Importantly, the observed variability in the responses of flies to burnt, unburnt, and gasoline-treated liver underscores their adaptability to various postfire conditions. The consistent findings across different experimental conditions underscore the potential of these results to refine methods for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) in forensic cases involving fire-damaged remains. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct further research to uncover the biochemical and ecological mechanisms driving the observed patterns of colonization and community structure. Such studies will deepen our understanding of forensic entomology and improve the precision of forensic investigations in scenarios impacted by fire.
Supplementary material
The following online material is available for this article:
Acknowledgements
To Dra. Júlia Calhau Almeida (Universidade Federal de Viçosa), Dra. Sarah Siqueira Oliveira (Universidade Federal de Goiás), Dra. Lisiane Dilli Wendt (Universidade Federal do Paraná) and Dr Carlos Ribeiro Vilela (Universidade de São Paulo) for identification of Rhinotoridae, Mycetophilidae, Fanniidae and Drosophilidae, respectively. To the CNPq for the grants to RFK (process number 308908/2016-3)
References
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Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
18 Oct 2024 -
Date of issue
2024
History
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Received
02 May 2024 -
Accepted
08 Sept 2024