A synthesis of carcass decomposition studies conducted at a tropical (Aw) taphonomy facility: 2013-2022.

ABSTRACT: Decomposition studies have been conducted in several regions of the world, but relatively few have investigated taphonomy in tropical environments. Even fewer have explored carcass decomposition during multiple tropical seasons, leaving the relationships between season and decomposition in tropical environments poorly understood. Ten decomposition studies using 30 carcasses were conducted in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA to start addressing this knowledge gap. These studies show that some postmortem processes were observed regardless of season. Carcass temperature and chemistry were spatiotemporally variable. Fly larval masses were consistently observed within 3 days (∼75 ADD) postmortem and carcasses lost 60%-90% of mass by 10 days (∼250 ADD) postmortem (Total Body Score ∼26). Season had a signif

SUBMITTER: Carter DO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10440585 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature