Differences in succession of Coleoptera species attracted to pig carcasses in rural and urban habitats in Eskişehir Province, Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine Coleoptera succession in pig carcasses in Eskişehir Province, Turkey, and to evaluate differences in successional patterns between rural and urban habitats. A total of 24 pig carcasses were placed in rural and urban areas in Eskişehir Province for one-year period between June 2012 and May 2013. A total of 80 species belonging to the families Staphylinidae, Histeridae, Dermestidae, Silphidae and Cleridae (Coleoptera) were collected either directly from carcasses or sifted for the specimens hiding in the soil. The months and duration of all species on the different stages of carcass decomposition were recorded. In addition, new records were added to the Coleoptera fauna of carcass for Turkey. The study revealed that, both species number and activity periods were different even in areas very close to each other. It is suggested that this type of long-term succession study should be performed across all provinces of Turkey. Acquired data could potentially be used for estimating the minimum post-mortem interval in forensic cases in Turkey.

Keywords

• Coleoptera succession,forensic entomology,pig,rural,Turkey,urban

Eskişehir ilinde kırsal ve kentsel habitatlardaki domuz leşlerine çekilen Coleoptera türlerinin süksesyon farklılıkları

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Eskişehir ilinde domuz leşi üzerindeki Coleoptera süksesyonunun belirlenmesi ve kırsal ve şehirsel habitatlardaki süksesyonal düzen farklılıklarının değerlendirilmesidir. Eskişehir ilinde bulunan bir kırsal bir de şehirsel alana toplam 24 domuz leşi, Haziran 2012 ve Mayıs 2013 arasında bir yıllık süre boyunca yerleştirilmiştir. Coleoptera takımı içerisinde Staphylinidae, Histeridae, Dermestidae, Silphidae ve Cleridae familyalarına ait toplam 80 tür, ya direkt olarak leş üzerinden ya da toprakta bulunan türler için elemeyle toplanmıştır. Tüm türlerin ayları ve farklı çürüme evrelerinde bulundukları süreler belirlenmiştir. Buna ek olarak Türkiye’nin leş Coleoptera faunasına yeni kayıtlar eklenmiştir. Yapılan çalışmada, çok yakın alanlarda bile hem tür sayısının hem de aktivite periyodlarının belirgin şekilde farklılık gösterdiği açığa çıkmaktadır. Bu şekildeki uzun-süreli süksesyon çalışmalarının Türkiye’nin tüm illerinde yapılması gerekliliği ortaya konulmuştur. Elde edilen veriler Türkiye’de adli olaylarda minimum ölüm zaman aralığı tahmininde potansiyel olarak kullanılabilecektir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Coleoptera süksesyonu,adli entomoloji,domuz,kırsal,Türkiye,kentsel

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