Faculty Sponsor
Kristi Bugajski
College
Arts and Sciences
Discipline(s)
Biology
ORCID Identifier(s)
Kristi Bugajski: 0000-0002-1518-0804 Maranda: 0000-0003-2195-6952 Emily: 0000-0002-0174-6328 Isabella: 0000-0002-4331-3627 Jhanelle: 0000-0002-0842-4428 Ashlynn: 0000-0001-5558-9674 Heather:0000-0001-9303-8937 Kendall: 0000-0003-1539-958X
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 5-28-2022
Abstract
Forensic entomology uses insects to help estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) based on blow fly colonization. The PMI provides an estimate of the time between death and discovery and is of extreme relevance due to its large role in forensic investigations. Nine fetal pigs were thawed from frozen 24 hours before the start of the experiment. Six fetal pigs were covered with plastic bags: three with thin plastic bags (average bag weight of 5.43 g) and three with thick plastic bags (average bag weight of 11.9 g). The remaining three pigs served as the control group. These pigs were placed outside, monitored for 6 days, and checked three times daily to look for the presence of blow fly eggs, adults, and maggots. Third instar maggots were collected for later observance. ANOVA tests were conducted to look for differences in the timing of blow fly oviposition between treatments. There was no significant difference found for any of the life stages in either trial. P-values ranged from 0.22 -1. The maggots were identified to species to look for differences in species composition between treatments. Lucilia coeruleiviridis was the dominant species found. Sarcophagidae flies were found only on bagged pigs. Sarcophagidae larvae have been found very rarely in this field site over the past decade, so this is an interesting finding. Scavenging of the pigs was a problem and future research should aim to reduce the effects of vertebrate scavenging.
Recommended Citation
Bugajski, Kristi; Spence, Jhanelle; Powell, Maranda; Wendland, Heather; Archibald, Emily; Williamson, Ashlynn; Larson, Kendall; and Schoolcraft, Isabella, "The Effect of Plastic Bags on Decomposition and Necrophagous Fly Composition" (2022). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 1048.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/1048
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Emily: Emily is a senior Biology/ Chemistry double major on the pre-medical track at Valparaiso University. She is from Waverly, IA and hopes to attend medical school for forensic pathology following graduation.
Heather: Heather is a senior Biology major with a Chemistry minor on a pre-medical track at Valparaiso University. She is from Valparaiso, Indiana, and hopes to attend medical school in the future.
Isabella: Isabella is a senior Biology major with a Chemistry minor on the pre-dental track at Valparaiso University. She is from Bargersville, IN and hopes to attend dental school following graduation.
Maranda: Maranda Powell is a junior bio-research major with a Chemistry minor on the PA track at Valparaiso University. She is from the south side of Chicago and hopes to attend a PA graduate program following graduation.
Kendall: Kendall is a senior Biology major with a double minor in Forensic Science and Chemistry at Valparaiso University. She is from Crown Point, Indiana, and hopes to become a forensic scientist following graduation.
Jhanelle: Jhanelle is a senior Biology major with a Chemistry minor on a pre-medical track at Valparaiso University. She is from Hammond, IN and hopes to attend medical school following graduation.
Ashlynn : Ashlynn is a senior Biology major at Valparaiso University. She is from Hanna, IN and hopes to study coral reef restoration following graduation.