Identifier
etd-06092015-123604
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Geography and Anthropology
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Prior to the 2008 establishment of the Texas State Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF), an outdoor laboratory dedicated to studying human decomposition, the forensic literature gave much focus to insect scavengers with little attention paid to animal and avian scavengers. Animal and avian scavengers were believed to arrive at a body late in the process of decomposition after the blowfly larvae had consumed the soft tissues and beetles had fed on any desiccated skin. However, recent research from Texas has illustrated that vultures are catalysts of the decomposition process, with the ability to skeletonize a human body in five hours. What remains unknown is why vultures have been absent from the seminal forensic texts and whether vultures are consistent in their arrival times during the decomposition process. Likewise, in which environments are vultures likely to scavenge and outcompete necrophagous insects such as blowflies in the acquisition of decomposing remains? The purpose of this study was to investigate vulture scavenging behavior and flight paths by using four broad methodologies: (1) long-term carrion decomposition field experiments combined with motion-activated infrared photography, (2) osteological analysis, (3) satellite telemetry, and (4) geospatial analysis. The specific objectives of this study are separated by chapter and include the following: • Ch. 1: Provide a brief overview of vultures in the literature; • Ch. 2: Describe the techniques and methods used to trap and tag vultures; • Ch. 3: Develop a list of traits that can be used to recognize vulture scavenged remains; • Ch. 4: Quantify and compare vultures’ times of arrival at carrion placed at FARF versus vultures’ arrival times at carrion placed at two other site types, thereby determining if resource predictability impacts when the vultures arrive to scavenge, and; • Ch. 5: Identify vulture scavenging habitats and flight patterns using geospatial techniques. Results reveal that 16 traits can be used to identify prior vulture scavenging, with the most beneficial traits being an intact vertebral column and down feathers left at the site. The site type did not impact vulture arrival times, but FARF was found to deter turkey vultures. Lastly, vulture flight patterns differed from those previously reported.
Date
2015
Document Availability at the Time of Submission
Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.
Recommended Citation
Pharr, Lauren Rebecca, "Using GPS Tracking and Long-Term Decomposition Studies to Investigate Vulture Scavenging and Flight Patterns in Relation to a Forensic Anthropology Facility in Texas" (2015). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 2204.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/2204
Committee Chair
Leitner, Michael
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.2204