title: Soil fungal community shift evaluation as a potential cadaver decomposition indicator.
abstract: Fungi metabolise organic matter in situ and so alter both the bio-/physico-chemical properties and microbial community structure of the ecosystem. In particular, they are responsible reportedly for specific stages of decomposition. Therefore, this study aimed to extend previous bacteria-based forensic ecogenomics research by investigating soil fungal community and cadaver decomposition interactions in microcosms with garden soil (20 kg, fresh weight) and domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) carcass (5 kg, leg). Soil samples were collected at depths of 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm on days 3, 28 and 77 in the absence (control -Pg) and presence (experimental +Pg) of Sus scrofa domesticus and used for total DNA extraction and nested polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) profiling of the 18S rRNA gene. The Shannon-Wiener (H') community diversity indices were 1.25±0.21 and 1.49±0.30 for the control and experimental microcosms, respectively, while comparable Simpson species dominance (S) values were 0.65±0.109 and 0.75±0.015. Generally, and in contrast to parallel studies of the bacterial 16S rRNA and 16S rDNA profiles, statistical analysis (t-test) of the 18S dynamics showed no mathematically significant shifts in fungal community diversity (H'; p=0.142) and dominance (S; p=0.392) during carcass decomposition, necessitating further investigations.
authors: School of Science and Engineering, Teesside University, Borough Road, Middlesbrough, Teesside TS1 3BA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: M.Chimutsa@tees.ac.uk.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Chimutsa
authors: School of Science and Engineering, Teesside University, Borough Road, Middlesbrough, Teesside TS1 3BA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: A.Olakanye@tees.ac.uk.
authors: Ayodeji O
authors: AO
authors: Olakanye
authors: School of Science and Engineering, Teesside University, Borough Road, Middlesbrough, Teesside TS1 3BA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: T.Thompson@tees.ac.uk.
authors: Tim J U
authors: TJU
authors: Thompson
authors: School of Science and Engineering, Teesside University, Borough Road, Middlesbrough, Teesside TS1 3BA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: K.Ralebitso-Senior@tees.ac.uk.
authors: T Komang
authors: TK
authors: Ralebitso-Senior
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D004586:Electrophoresis; D023421:Models, Animal; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
keywords: Decomposition; Forensic ecogenomics; Fungal communities; PCR–DGGE; Soil