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Thesis
THE FAUNAL SUCCESSION OF FORENSICALLY IMPORTANT ARTHROPODS AND LARGE VERTEBRATE SCAVENGERS IN RURAL NORTHWEST FLORIDA
University of West Florida
Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida
2018
Abstract
In order to assess biodiversity of forensically important arthropods and large vertebrate scavengers in rural northwest Florida where little is known about these taxa, a study was conducted using pig carrion as models representing human remains. The field research for this study was conducted between March 1 and March 2, 2017. Adult Calliphorid flies and beetles were collected and larvae were reared to the adult stage from two pig carcasses, Sus scrofa L.; one placed in flatwoods and the other in a seepage bog. Seven species of Calliphoridae were collected and identified from the carrion, including Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy) 0.7%, Chrysomya megacephela (Fabricius)1.0%, Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) 5.9%, Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) 6.9%, Lucilia coeruleiviridis (Macquart) 24.1%, Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) 0.3%, and Phormia regina (Meigen) 61.0%. P. regina was the predominant species collected and reared from both pig carcasses. There were six Coleoptera species collected from the carrion, including Saprinus pennsylvanicus (Paykull) 30.6%, Aphodius rufipes (Linnaeus) 4.1%, Trox suberosus (Fabricius) 8.2%, Oiceoptoma rugulosum (Portevin) 30.6%, Necrodes surinamensis (Fabricius) 2.0%, and Creophilus maxillosus (Linnaeus) 24.5%. O. rugulosum and S. pennsylvanicus were the most common species collected. Motion sensor game cameras also provided evidence for large vertebrate scavengers even though the pig carcasses were protected by cages. This information may be used to understand arthropod succession and identify blow fly and beetle species within Escambia County, Florida, and surrounding areas with similar subtropical climates.
Details
- Title
- THE FAUNAL SUCCESSION OF FORENSICALLY IMPORTANT ARTHROPODS AND LARGE VERTEBRATE SCAVENGERS IN RURAL NORTHWEST FLORIDA
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Identifiers
- 99380090838906600
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Arts (MA)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida