Abstract
In terrestrial ecosystems decomposing cadavers act as resource patches affecting nutrient cycling and soil
communities, but the effects on soil communities are not well known. In this study we investigated
nematode community response to decomposing pig cadavers (Sus scrofa) over a one-year period. As
nematodes play key roles in soil food webs and are known to respond to disturbances and nutrient
enrichment, we hypothesised that they would respond to decomposing cadavers and that this response
would change over time. We compared the temporal patterns of nematode density and community
structure under pig cadavers, either placed directly on the ground or hung 1 m aboveground (for effects
of cadaveric fluids only), with two controls, i.e., bare soil and bags filled with soil placed on the ground
(fake pigs e for microclimatic effects only). In the control and fake pig treatments nematode densities,
community patterns and maturity indices did not change significantly. In contrast, density increased
significantly underneath the ground and hanging pigs two weeks after the beginning of the experiment,
and nematode family richness, Simpson diversity and maturity index were significantly reduced in the
cadaver treatments. Most nematode families responded negatively to cadavers with the notable exceptions
of Rhabditidae, Neodiplogasteridae and Diplogasteroididae. The latter two were found exclusively
underneath the decomposing cadavers and are promising bioindicators of vertebrate cadaver
decomposition. Even though diversity, density and communities were recovering after one year, the
impact of cadavers was still significant for the maturity index. These contrasting patterns illustrate how
decomposing cadavers contribute to increasing local biodiversity and suggest that soil nematodes could
be used as a tool to document the presence of a decomposing cadaver, or to estimate the time elapsed
since death (post-mortem interval). Patterns should, however, be compared in different settings and
seasons before such a tool can be validated.
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 405 - 416 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Soil Biology and Biochemistry |
Volume | 103 |
Early online date | 30 Sept 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | First published - 30 Sept 2016 |
Bibliographical note
1023321Keywords
- Cadaver decomposition
- Community ecology
- Post-mortem interval
- Soil biodiversity
- Temporal patterns