Jen Pechal
Major Professor: Dr. Jeff Tomberlin
Ph.D. Candidate
"Microbial fauna associated with the external surface of decomposing remains."
Microbial organisms are ubiquitous in the environment and their role in community structures on ephemeral resources is commonly underestimated. Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are primary colonizers of decomposing remains, which then follow a predictable succession pattern of arthropods arriving to utilize the resource for nutrient acquisition and/or as an oviposition site. There are several hypotheses explaining why blow flies are attracted to decomposition. These explanations range from volatiles to visual cues, however the exact mechanisms are still unknown. Microbes associated with the external surfaces of carcasses may playa vital role in succession patterns and interspecific interactions of blow flies and other forensically important arthropods associated with decomposing remains. Pigs (Sus scrofa) were placed in the field and routinely had external skin samples taken using a modified epidermis sampling technique commonly used for diagnosis of epidermal bacterial infections in humans. Bacterial DNA was extracted and examined via pyrosequencing to obtain a species level identification. We hope to differentiate between species of microbial organisms associated with external skin surfaces of decomposition and establish a discernable pattern of bacteria associated with the various stages of decomposition. Understanding the microbial community will allow for a better understanding of their interactions with blow flies in regards to decomposing remains, which could lead to refined post-mortem period estimates of human remains based on the presence or absence of insects.