Soil fungal community shift evaluation as a potential cadaver decomposition indicator

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Ecology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Fungi are crucial decomposers, influencing ecosystem properties and microbial communities.
• Previous research focused on bacterial roles in forensic ecogenomics.
• Understanding fungal contributions to decomposition is vital for forensic investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interaction between soil fungal communities and carcass decomposition.
• To extend forensic ecogenomics research by including fungal analysis.
• To assess shifts in fungal community structure and diversity during decomposition.

Main Methods:

• Utilized microcosms with garden soil and pig carcasses (Sus scrofa domesticus).
• Collected soil samples at various depths (0-30 cm) and time points (days 3, 28, 77).
• Employed nested polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) for 18S rRNA gene profiling.

Main Results:

• Shannon-Wiener (H') diversity indices were 1.25±0.21 (control) and 1.49±0.30 (experimental).
• Simpson species dominance (S) values were 0.65±0.109 (control) and 0.75±0.015 (experimental).
• Statistical analysis revealed no significant shifts in fungal community diversity (p=0.142) or dominance (p=0.392) during decomposition.

Conclusions:

• Fungal community diversity and dominance did not significantly change during pig carcass decomposition in this study.
• Results contrast with findings from bacterial studies in forensic ecogenomics.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of fungi in carcass decomposition.