An Experimental Study of Vertebrate Scavenging Behavior in a Northwest European Woodland Context

Authors: Young, A., Stillman, R., Smith, M.J. and Korstjens, A.H.

Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences

eISSN: 1556-4029

ISSN: 0022-1198

DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12468

Abstract:

Vertebrate scavengers can modify surface deposited human remains which can hinder forensic investigations. The effects of such scavenging vary between species and regions. Published research into the effects of the scavenging of human remains is dominated by work from North America with few studies covering Northwestern Europe. Forensic scientists, investigators, and police search officers in Northwestern Europe are often left questioning on a basic level as to which scavengers are active and how they might affect human remains. This paper presents the results of a field study utilizing deer (Cervus nippon; Capreolus capreolus) as surface deposits observed by motion detection cameras in a British woodland. The most common avian and rodent scavenger species recorded included the buzzard (Buteo buteo), carrion crow (Corvus corone), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). The scavenging behaviors observed were affected by seasonality, rates of decomposition, and insect activity. Scavenging by buzzards, unlike carrion crows, was most frequent during fall to winter and prior to insect activity. Overall, avian scavengers modified and scavenged soft tissue. Rodents scavenged both fresh and skeletonized remains with gray squirrels only scavenging skeletal remains. Wood mice were most active in winter and scavenged both soft tissue and bone. © 2014 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/23290/

Source: Scopus

An experimental study of vertebrate scavenging behavior in a northwest European woodland context

Authors: Young, A., Stillman, R., Smith, M.J. and Korstjens, A.H.

Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences

Volume: 59

Issue: 5

Pages: 1333-1342

eISSN: 1556-4029

ISSN: 0022-1198

DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12468

Abstract:

Vertebrate scavengers can modify surface deposited human remains which can hinder forensic investigations. The effects of such scavenging vary between species and regions. Published research into the effects of the scavenging of human remains is dominated by work from North America with few studies covering Northwestern Europe. Forensic scientists, investigators, and police search officers in Northwestern Europe are often left questioning on a basic level as to which scavengers are active and how they might affect human remains. This paper presents the results of a field study utilizing deer (Cervus nippon; Capreolus capreolus) as surface deposits observed by motion detection cameras in a British woodland. The most common avian and rodent scavenger species recorded included the buzzard (Buteo buteo), carrion crow (Corvus corone), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). The scavenging behaviors observed were affected by seasonality, rates of decomposition, and insect activity. Scavenging by buzzards, unlike carrion crows, was most frequent during fall to winter and prior to insect activity. Overall, avian scavengers modified and scavenged soft tissue. Rodents scavenged both fresh and skeletonized remains with gray squirrels only scavenging skeletal remains. Wood mice were most active in winter and scavenged both soft tissue and bone.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/23290/

Source: Scopus

Preferred by: Amanda Korstjens and Martin Smith

An experimental study of vertebrate scavenging behavior in a Northwest European woodland context.

Authors: Young, A., Stillman, R., Smith, M.J. and Korstjens, A.H.

Journal: J Forensic Sci

Volume: 59

Issue: 5

Pages: 1333-1342

eISSN: 1556-4029

DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12468

Abstract:

Vertebrate scavengers can modify surface deposited human remains which can hinder forensic investigations. The effects of such scavenging vary between species and regions. Published research into the effects of the scavenging of human remains is dominated by work from North America with few studies covering Northwestern Europe. Forensic scientists, investigators, and police search officers in Northwestern Europe are often left questioning on a basic level as to which scavengers are active and how they might affect human remains. This paper presents the results of a field study utilizing deer (Cervus nippon; Capreolus capreolus) as surface deposits observed by motion detection cameras in a British woodland. The most common avian and rodent scavenger species recorded included the buzzard (Buteo buteo), carrion crow (Corvus corone), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). The scavenging behaviors observed were affected by seasonality, rates of decomposition, and insect activity. Scavenging by buzzards, unlike carrion crows, was most frequent during fall to winter and prior to insect activity. Overall, avian scavengers modified and scavenged soft tissue. Rodents scavenged both fresh and skeletonized remains with gray squirrels only scavenging skeletal remains. Wood mice were most active in winter and scavenged both soft tissue and bone.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/23290/

Source: PubMed

An Experimental Study of Vertebrate Scavenging Behavior in a Northwest European Woodland Context

Authors: Young, A., Stillman, R., Smith, M.J. and Korstjens, A.H.

Journal: JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

Volume: 59

Issue: 5

Pages: 1333-1342

eISSN: 1556-4029

ISSN: 0022-1198

DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12468

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/23290/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

An experimental study of vertebrate scavenging behavior in a Northwest European woodland context

Authors: Young, A., Stillman, R., Smith, M.J. and Korstjens, A.H.

Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences

Volume: 59

Issue: 5

Pages: 1333-1342

DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12468

Abstract:

Vertebrate scavengers can modify surface deposited human remains which can hinder forensic investigations. The effects of such scavenging vary between species and regions. Published research into the effects of the scavenging of human remains is dominated by work from North America with few studies covering Northwestern Europe. Forensic scientists, investigators, and police search officers in Northwestern Europe are often left questioning on a basic level as to which scavengers are active and how they might affect human remains. This paper presents the results of a field study utilizing deer (Cervus nippon; Capreolus capreolus) as surface deposits observed by motion detection cameras in a British woodland. The most common avian and rodent scavenger species recorded included the buzzard (Buteo buteo), carrion crow (Corvus corone), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). The scavenging behaviors observed were affected by seasonality, rates of decomposition, and insect activity. Scavenging by buzzards, unlike carrion crows, was most frequent during fall to winter and prior to insect activity. Overall, avian scavengers modified and scavenged soft tissue. Rodents scavenged both fresh and skeletonized remains with gray squirrels only scavenging skeletal remains. Wood mice were most active in winter and scavenged both soft tissue and bone.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/23290/

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1556-4029.12468/abstract

Source: Manual

Preferred by: Richard Stillman and Alexandria Young

An experimental study of vertebrate scavenging behavior in a Northwest European woodland context.

Authors: Young, A., Stillman, R., Smith, M.J. and Korstjens, A.H.

Journal: Journal of forensic sciences

Volume: 59

Issue: 5

Pages: 1333-1342

eISSN: 1556-4029

ISSN: 0022-1198

DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12468

Abstract:

Vertebrate scavengers can modify surface deposited human remains which can hinder forensic investigations. The effects of such scavenging vary between species and regions. Published research into the effects of the scavenging of human remains is dominated by work from North America with few studies covering Northwestern Europe. Forensic scientists, investigators, and police search officers in Northwestern Europe are often left questioning on a basic level as to which scavengers are active and how they might affect human remains. This paper presents the results of a field study utilizing deer (Cervus nippon; Capreolus capreolus) as surface deposits observed by motion detection cameras in a British woodland. The most common avian and rodent scavenger species recorded included the buzzard (Buteo buteo), carrion crow (Corvus corone), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). The scavenging behaviors observed were affected by seasonality, rates of decomposition, and insect activity. Scavenging by buzzards, unlike carrion crows, was most frequent during fall to winter and prior to insect activity. Overall, avian scavengers modified and scavenged soft tissue. Rodents scavenged both fresh and skeletonized remains with gray squirrels only scavenging skeletal remains. Wood mice were most active in winter and scavenged both soft tissue and bone.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/23290/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

An experimental study of vertebrate scavenging behavior in a Northwest European woodland context.

Authors: Young, A., Stillman, R.A., Smith, M.J. and Korstjens, A.

Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences

Volume: 59

Issue: 5

Pages: 1333-1342

ISSN: 0022-1198

Abstract:

Vertebrate scavengers can modify surface deposited human remains which can hinder forensic investigations. The effects of such scavenging vary between species and regions. Published research into the effects of the scavenging of human remains is dominated by work from North America with few studies covering Northwestern Europe. Forensic scientists, investigators, and police search officers in Northwestern Europe are often left questioning on a basic level as to which scavengers are active and how they might affect human remains. This paper presents the results of a field study utilizing deer (Cervus nippon; Capreolus capreolus) as surface deposits observed by motion detection cameras in a British woodland. The most common avian and rodent scavenger species recorded included the buzzard (Buteo buteo), carrion crow (Corvus corone), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). The scavenging behaviors observed were affected by seasonality, rates of decomposition, and insect activity. Scavenging by buzzards, unlike carrion crows, was most frequent during fall to winter and prior to insect activity. Overall, avian scavengers modified and scavenged soft tissue. Rodents scavenged both fresh and skeletonized remains with gray squirrels only scavenging skeletal remains. Wood mice were most active in winter and scavenged both soft tissue and bone.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/23290/

Source: BURO EPrints