Summary
Carcasses are temporary resources which are unbredictable and inconsistent in their availability and locality. A recognisable community of interacting user arthrocods comprising sarcophages, coprophages, dermatophages, keratophages, detritivores, predators and parasites has evolved to exploit the carcass habitat. The large number of arthropods, close confinement, and limited duration of resources necessitates aggressive utilisation. The trophic relations, competition and successionary pattern of these arthropods is discussed. Several pathways to reduce competitive conflict are described. Succession at carcasses is viewed as being inherently different from the traditional concept as the habitat is non-replenishing and does not lead to a climax community.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bennettova B, Fraenkel G (1981) What determines the number of ovarioles in a fly ovary? J Insect Physiol 27(6):403–410
Bornemissza GF (1957) An analysis of arthropod succession in carrion and the effect of its decomposition on the soil fauna. Austr J Zool 5:1–12
Bowdan E (1982) Effect of age and nutrition on the responses of female blow-flies (Phormia regina) to the odour from a proteinaceous source. Ent exp et appl 32:1–6
Braack LEO (1981) Visitation patterns of principal species of the insect-complex at carcasses in the Kruger National Park. Koedoe 24:33–49
Braack LEO (1984) An ecological investigation of the insects associated with exposed carcasses in the northern Kruger National Park. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Natal, South Africa
Braack LEO (1986) Role and status of the arthropods attendant at carcasses in the northern Kruger National Park. SA J Wildl Res 16:91–98
Braack LEO, Retief PF (1986) Dispersal, density, and habitat preference of the blow-flies Chrysomyia albiceps (Wd.) and Chrysomyia marginalis (Wd) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Onderstepoort J Vet Res 53:13–18
Brown WL Jr, Wilson EO (1956) Character displacement. Syst Zool 5:49–64
COE M (1978) The decomposition of elephant carcasses in the Tsavo (East) National Park, Kenya. Arid Environm 1:71–86
Connell JH (1980) Diversity and the coevolution of competitors, or the ghost of competition past. Oikos 35:131–138
Connell JH (1983) On the prevalence and relative importance of interspecific competition: evidence from field experiments. Amer Natur 122:661–696
Cornell H, Pimentel D (1978) Switching in the parasitoid Nasonia vitripennis and its effects on host competition. Ecology 59(2):297–308
De Bach P (1966) The competitive displacement and coexistence principles. Ann Rev Entomol 11:183–212
Denno RF, Cothran WR (1975) Niche relationships of a guild of necrophagous flies. Ann Ent Soc Amer 68:741–754
Denno RF, Cothran WR (1976) Competitive interactions and ecological strategies of Sarcophagid and Calliphorid flies inhabiting rabbit carrion. Ann Ent Soc Amer 69:109–113
Dethier VG (1976) The Hungry Fly. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Fuller ME (1934) Insect inhabitants in carrion: a study in animal ecology. Austr Council Sci Ind Res Bull 82
Gertenbach WPD (1980) Rainfall patterns in the Kruger National Park. Koedoe 23:35–43
Gertenbach WPD (1983) Landscapes of the Kruger National Park. Koedoe 26:9–121
Haila Y (1982) Hypothetico-deductivism and the competition controversy in ecology. Ann Zool Fennici 19:255–263
Hardin G (1960) The competitive exclusion principle. Science 131(3409):1292–1297
Hepburn GA (1943a) Sheep blow-fly research 1 — A survey of maggot collections from live sheep and a note on the trapping of blow-flies. Onderstepoort J Vet Sci Anim Ind 18(1+2):13–18
Hepburn GA (1943b) Sheep blow-fly research V — Carcasses as a source of blow-flies. Onderstepoort J Vet Sci Anim Ind 18:59–72
Jiron LF, Cartin VM (1981) Insect succession in the decomposition of a mammal in Costa Rica J New York Ent Soc 89(3):158–165
Johnson MD (1975) Microseral and seasonal variation in the insect populations of carrion. Amer Midl Natural 93:79–90
Kenneth JH (1975) A dictionary of biological terms. Longmans, London
Levot GW, Brown KR, Shipp E (1979) Larval growth of some calliphorid and sarcophagid Diptera. Bull Ent Res 69:469–475
McKinnerney M (1978) Carrion communities in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. The South-western Naturalist 23:563–576
Megnin P (1894) La fauna des cadavres. Application de l'Entomologie a' la Médicine Légale. Paris, Encyclopédie Sci Aide-Mémoire
Meskin I (1980) The guild of necrophagous blow-flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of the Highveld Region of the Transvaal. Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Mönning HO, Cilliers PA (1944) Sheep blow-fly research VII — Investigations in the Cape winter-rainfall areas. Onderstepoort J Vet Sci Anim Ind 19(1+2):71–77
Nuorteva P (1977) Sarcosaprophagous insects as forensic indicators. In: Tedeschi CG, Eckert WG, Tedeschi LG (eds) Forensic Medicine: A study in trauma and environmental hazards, volume II, W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia pp 1072–1095
Payne JA (1967) A comparative ecological study of pig carrion decomposition and animal succession with special reference to the insects. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Clemson University
Prins AJ (1980). The arthropods associated with decaying organic matter in the southern and western Cape Province. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis University of Stellenbosch
Prins AJ (1982) Morphological and biological notes on six South African blow-flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and their immature stages. Ann S Afr Mus 90(4):201–217
Reed HB Jr (1958) A study of dog carcass communities in Tennessee with special reference to the insects. Amer Midl Natural 59:213–245
Richards OW, Davies RG (eds) (1977) Imms' general textbook of entomology, 10th ed. Vol. 2. Chapman and Hall, London
Richardson PRK (1980) The natural removal of ungulate carcasses, and the adaptive features of the scavengers involved. Unpublished M.Sc. thesis. University of Pretoria
Simberloff D (1982) The status of competition theory in ecology. Ann Zool Fennici 19:241–253
Smith B (1929) The sheep blow-flies of South Africa. Union Sth. Afr Dep Agr Bull 47, 27 pp
Smith B (1931) A study of the sheep blow-flies of South Africa. 17th rprt. Director Vet Serv Anim Ind Union Sth Afr Part 1, pp 299–421
Smith KGV (1975) The faunal succession of insects and other invertebrates on a dead fox. Entomol Gaz 26:277–287
Thomson JD (1980) Implications of different sorts of evidence for competition. Amer Natur 116:719–726
Ullyett GC (1950) Competition for food and allied phenomena in sheep blow-fly populations. Phil Trans Roy Soc Lond B 234:77–174
Voris R (1934) Biological Investigations on the Staphylinidae (Coleoptera). Trans Acad Sci Saint Louis 28(8):233–261
Waterhouse DF (1957) Digestion in insects. Ann Rev Ent 2:1–18
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Braack, L.E.O. Community dynamics of carrion-attendant arthropods in tropical african woodland. Oecologia 72, 402–409 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377571
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377571