Plant Bioassay Testing Soil Quality Following Carrion Insect Activity

Abstract

The decomposition of animal carrion, particularly small animals that are used as a breeding resource for carrion insects, is little studied but is likely to be a major component of nutrient cycling in many ecosystems. This project focuses on how carrion insects affect small vertebrate carrion decomposition and what nutrients are put back into the soil. My research question is: How nutritious does soil become after carrion insect activity, and how can this be observed? Using three different types of carrion insects (two species of beetles and the common flies found here at RMBL), and carrion sources I plan to collect impacted soil and allow small vertebrate carrion decomposition and carrion insect activity to occur on the soil. I aim to compare how carcass visitation and consumption by three different types of carrion insects affects soil nutrients and will measure this nutrient addition through a plant growth bioassay. The findings may be applied to techniques for restoring impacted soils.

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