Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) is a freshwater crayfish, native of Southern USA, which spread in Europe after its introduction for aquaculture. Little information is available on the decomposition of bodies in freshwater systems, yet the study of body transformations in this environment is important for the estimation of the minPMI and the alterations of the body that may affect the estimation of the cause of death. In previous experiments, the importance of P. clarkii in the consumption of dead bodies in freshwater systems was assessed. A new series of experiments was set out in order to analyze the population dynamics of P. clarkii in relation to the position of the body in the water column, and, therefore, with the decomposition stage of the carcass. The experiments were performed in Nonantola (MO), Northern Italy (both during summer, one in July and the other in August). In each experiment, five pig carcasses (Sus scrofa, L) enclosed in lobster pots were placed inside an artificial freshwater dew pond (67m x 15m, with a maximum depth of 1,5m). The number of P. clarkii detected on each carcass was recorded following an established sampling protocol, together with water level and meteorological data. Results of both experiments show two main crayfish population peaks on the carcasses: the first peak occurs immediately after the deposition of the body inside the pond and the second one occurs 7-10 days after the placement, at the end of the floating stage. This peculiarity is probably connected with a difficulty for the crayfish to reach the carcasses during the floating stage, because of their poor swimming ability. Both peaks occurred in the submersion stage, with the carcass lying on the pond bottom, where it was easily reachable by crayfish. This study is important in the forensic field related to freshwater systems, because the feeding activity of P. clarkii is crucial in the dismemberment of the body in water. These experiments showed differences in the colonization of the body in relation to its position in the water column. This may be useful for the estimation of the minPMI interval on bodies found in freshwater ponds.
Population dynamics of Procambarus clarkii as a function of the body submersion/floating stage / Manelli, L.; Vanin, S.; Maistrello, Lara. - STAMPA. - 1:(2014), pp. 50-50. (Intervento presentato al convegno 11th Meeting of the European Association for Forensic Entomology tenutosi a Lille (France) nel 9-11 April 2014).
Population dynamics of Procambarus clarkii as a function of the body submersion/floating stage
MAISTRELLO, Lara
2014
Abstract
Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) is a freshwater crayfish, native of Southern USA, which spread in Europe after its introduction for aquaculture. Little information is available on the decomposition of bodies in freshwater systems, yet the study of body transformations in this environment is important for the estimation of the minPMI and the alterations of the body that may affect the estimation of the cause of death. In previous experiments, the importance of P. clarkii in the consumption of dead bodies in freshwater systems was assessed. A new series of experiments was set out in order to analyze the population dynamics of P. clarkii in relation to the position of the body in the water column, and, therefore, with the decomposition stage of the carcass. The experiments were performed in Nonantola (MO), Northern Italy (both during summer, one in July and the other in August). In each experiment, five pig carcasses (Sus scrofa, L) enclosed in lobster pots were placed inside an artificial freshwater dew pond (67m x 15m, with a maximum depth of 1,5m). The number of P. clarkii detected on each carcass was recorded following an established sampling protocol, together with water level and meteorological data. Results of both experiments show two main crayfish population peaks on the carcasses: the first peak occurs immediately after the deposition of the body inside the pond and the second one occurs 7-10 days after the placement, at the end of the floating stage. This peculiarity is probably connected with a difficulty for the crayfish to reach the carcasses during the floating stage, because of their poor swimming ability. Both peaks occurred in the submersion stage, with the carcass lying on the pond bottom, where it was easily reachable by crayfish. This study is important in the forensic field related to freshwater systems, because the feeding activity of P. clarkii is crucial in the dismemberment of the body in water. These experiments showed differences in the colonization of the body in relation to its position in the water column. This may be useful for the estimation of the minPMI interval on bodies found in freshwater ponds.
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