Estimating time since death is difficult because of the multitude of factors that can alter postmortem change. Initial research conducted in western Montana indicates that decomposition does not follow the patterns found in other geographic locations. The purpose of this study is to better define how western Montanas unique environmental factors affect the rate and pattern of decomposition of surface remains and buried remains.
In May 2012 one mature pig (Sus scrofa) was placed on the surface and a second pig was buried. Throughout a nine-month period the following variables were monitored for the surface pig: rate and pattern of decomposition, climatic variables, internal temperature, and entomological activity. The following variables were monitored for the buried pig: ambient temperature, internal temperature, relative humidity, vegetation changes, pH levels, animal patterns, and insects. The results from this study indicate that regardless of whether a body is deposited on the surface or buried, mummification of external tissues occurs and is persistent for at least nine-months in the absence of animal scavenging. The ultimate result of this study contributes to building a baseline data set for documenting decomposition in western Montanas cool and arid climate.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MONTANA/oai:etd.lib.umt.edu:etd-05242013-094332 |
| Date | 24 May 2013 |
| Creators | Huey, Tory Nicole |
| Contributors | Dr. Ashley McKeown, Dr. Kelly Dixon, Dave Dyer M.A. |
| Publisher | The University of Montana |
| Source Sets | University of Montana Missoula |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.lib.umt.edu/theses/available/etd-05242013-094332/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Montana or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
Page generated in 0.0017 seconds