Introduction
Syllabus
Course
Information
Links & Readings
Bulletin
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Lecture Notes
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open in new window - only use Internet Explorer)
1 - Intro Eco (html, PPT)
2 - Pop Eco (html, PPT)
3 - Comm Eco (html, PPT)
4 - Ecosys Eco (html, PPT)
5 - Cons Eco (html, PPT)
PPT
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Assignments
1 - Ecol
Footprint
2 - Population
Growth
3 - Forensic
Entomology
4 - Invasion
Biology |
- Assignment:
If we are to
apply the idea of degradative succession to human uses, what are
factors
that can influence how the process occurs? Do these have ecological
correlates
to fields other than forensic entomology?
- Believe it
or
not, crimes can
be solved by applying the principles of ecological succession that we
learned
during our third module. Finite organic resources are subject to the
processes
of degradative succession in similar ways once the organism dies. These
principles hold whether the organism is a tree, a piece of fruit, or a
human body.
- Degradative
succession is the
process by which finite organic resources go from being in the form
that
the organism was in prior to death to the final stage of decomposition.
Usually this process involves the consumption of the body by other
organisms
(bacteria, fungi, animals), and results in an end-point of indigestible
material and available nutrients that seep into the soil via water
leaching
or digestion and excretion.
- The
sequence
in which certain
species of insects arrive to a dead animal is characteristic of an area
and time of year and weather pattern. This sequence, once adequately
characterized,
can be used to date the time of death. If insect species are present
that
are not found in the area where the body was found, it should help to
geographically
place the death as well before it was moved to another area.
- The study
of
the arrival of
these insects to human corpses is called Forensic Entomology - the use
of succession to solve crimes. We'll use what we learn about Forensic
Entomology
to deepen our understanding of how ecological communities are formed
and
maintained.
- The
following
are websites available
for background reading for this assignment:
- The Introduction
to Forensic Entomology from Morten Stærkeby is one of the
best sites to improve your understanding of the field. A textbook with
several examples are available here. If you are interested in reading
about several case
studies, they have 27 of them available.
- Forensic
Entomology.com has a great set of short background readings on the
field, the animals, several case studies, and how the field is
implemented. Of particular interest are their pages entitled Definition,
Common
Insects in Forensic Entomology, and Protocol.
- The American Board of
Forensic Entomologists hosted by the College of Agriculture, Food,
and Natural Resources, University of Missouri-Columbia, has a great
deal of information on the history
of the field and also has several case
studies.
- Your
Assignment:
- Read the
above
webpages.
- Answer the
following:
- Describe
why
forensic entomology
and the theories of degradative succession are related. Why is
degradative
succession named as such and why is this an example of degradative
succession?
- What are
the
various factors
that can influence the dating of a murder? How would these impact upon
the process of succession? Include in your discussion at least 3
different
factors, with at least one from each of the following more general
categories:
Timing, Location, and Assorted Chemically-related factors.
- How
could
the data or techniques
gathered by forensic entomologists be used for the conservation of
animals
or of ecosystems?
- DUE: Online at
Courseworks.columbia.edu before the start of the FOURTH Class Session
Written 2002 by
James Danoff-Burg. |