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Volatile organic compounds in variably aged carrion impacted by the presence of the primary colonizer, Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

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Abstract

The attraction and colonization of vertebrate remains by carrion-associated arthropods are processes largely governed by olfaction. As remains decompose, they emit a bouquet of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which in part originate from endogenous and exogenous microbes surrounding the carcass or from the carcass itself. The composition and concentration of VOCs are influenced by the presence and abundance of microbial species and arthropods. Blowfly species, such as Cochliomyia macellaria, play a critical role in nutrient recycling and the decomposition process of carrion. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis was used to identify and classify volatile emissions from insect-colonized (with C. macellaria) and uncolonized rat carcasses, as well as a standard Gainesville diet, over a 10-day period. There were significant differences in composition and abundance of compounds present in each treatment, with significant effects of time, and different compound composition between treatments. Notable indicator compounds included, but were not limited to, indole, dimethyl disulfide, and dimethyl trisulfide. A high compound richness, and a low compound diversity, was detected over the 10-day period. The indicator compounds detected across all treatments were found to be of microbial origin, highlighting the importance of microbes in decomposition processes and arthropod attraction to carrion. This study also discusses the significant impact of necrophagous arthropods to the VOC profile of carrion. The results of this study provide insight into the changes in decomposition VOCs over time, with an explanation of compounds in high concentration known to be attractive to carrion-colonizing arthropods.

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Acknowledgments

ZK extends thanks to the members of the F.L.I.E.S Facility for assistance in setup and sampling. The authors thank JE Light, ME Benbow, and AM Tarone for comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. The financial assistance of the National Research Foundation (NRF) is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at, are those of the author and are not necessarily to be attributed to the NRF. Grant UID: 104619.

Funding

This study was supported by National Research Foundation South Africa (Grant ID: 104619).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Zanthé Kotzé & Jeffery K. Tomberlin

  2. Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Pablo J. Delclos

  3. Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Anthony H. Knap & Terry L. Wade

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  1. Zanthé Kotzé
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  2. Pablo J. Delclos
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Correspondence to Zanthé Kotzé.

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Supplementary Table 1

PERMANOVA results testing differences in volatile composition across ten days, using three types of decomposing matter: uncolonized rat carcasses, rat carcasses colonized with Cochliomyia macellaria larvae, and a standard Gainesville diet. A Bonferonni correction was applied to results. Significant differences are indicated by an asterisk. (PDF 61 kb)

Supplementary Table 2

Biological origin and function of indicator compounds detected from analysis of decomposing uncolonized rat carcasses, rat carcasses colonized with C. macellaria larvae, and Gainesville diet. (PDF 89 kb)

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Kotzé, Z., Delclos, P.J., Knap, A.H. et al. Volatile organic compounds in variably aged carrion impacted by the presence of the primary colonizer, Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Int J Legal Med 135, 1005–1014 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02478-8

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