The ecology of decomposition on rabbit carcasses in various habitats and its implications in forensic entomology in Malaysia / Siti Aisyah Silahuddin

The stages of decomposition and the faunal succession on rabbit carcasses in three different habitats, namely jungle, rural and highland areas were studied. Three New Zealand White rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) carcasses weighing approximately 2 kg were sampled daily until the decomposition process completed. Representative specimens of adult flies, larvae, pupa and mites were collected from the carcasses and processed in the laboratory. There were differences in decomposition rate and faunal succession between the carcasses. The fastest rate of decomposition was recorded in rural area and the slowest rate of decomposition was recorded from highland area. The carcasses exhibited the same pattern of colonization by flies, however, the dominant species of larvae and adult flies on each carcass were different. The primary species of flies recorded in jungle were Chrysomya megacephala, Achoetandrus rufifacies, Chrysomya chani, Chrysomya villenuevi, Chrysomya nigripes, Chrysomya pinguis, Hemipyrellia ligurriens, Hemipyrellia tagaliana, Hypopyiopsis fumipennis, Hypopygiopsis violacea and Ophyra spinigera represented by both adults and larvae, meanwhile Musca domestica, Atherigona sp., Lioproctia pattoni, Lioproctia saprianovae and Seniorwhitea princeps were represented by adults only. The biodiversity of flies in the rural area were Ch. megacephala, Ac. rufifacies, H ligurriens, Fannia canicularis, Ophyra chalcogaster and 0. spinigera represented by both adults and larvae, meanwhile Musca domestica, Atherigona sp., Boettcherisca peregrina, Parasarcophaga taenionota, Parasarcophaga scopariiformis and S. princeps were represented by adults only. Meanwhile the species of flies collected in the highland area were Lucilia porphyrina, Ch., Ac. rufifacies, Ch villenuevi, Ch pinguis, H ligurriens, Ospinigera, 0 chalcogaster, Fa canicularis and Boettcherisca highlandica were represented by both adults and larvae, meanwhile Ch nigripes, Chrysomya thanomthini, M domestica, Atherigona sp., Parasarcophaga a/biceps, P taenionota, Sepsidae, Phoridae and Millichidae were represented by adults only. Faunal succession followed the sequence of dominant flies i.e. Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, Sepsidae and lastly Stratiomyidae (for jungle), or Sepsidae for rural and highland studies. We also recovered Mesostigmata, Prostigmata, Astigmata and Oribatida mites throughout decomposition which could be used for future implementation in forensic investigations. The data obtained from this study provides more accurate indicators to local forensic scientists in solving criminal cases especially on determination of time and primary location of death.