Forensic Taphonomy and Ecology of North American Scavengers
Auteurs : Sincerbox Susan N., DiGangi Elizabeth A.
Forensic Taphonomy and Ecology of North American Scavengers compiles research on vertebrate scavenging behavior from numerous academic fields, including ecology and forensic anthropology. Scavenging behavior can displace remains from their depositional context, confound postmortem interval estimation, destroy osteological markers, and inflict damage that mimics or disguises perimortem trauma. Consequently, the actions of vertebrate scavengers can significantly impact the medicolegal investigation of human remains. It is therefore critical when interpreting a death scene and its associated evidence that scavenging be recognized and the possible effects of scavenging behavior considered.
This book is an ideal reference for both students and medicolegal professionals, serving as a field manual for the identification of common scavenging species known to modify human remains in North America. In addition, this book presents a framework to guide investigators in optimizing their approach to scavenged cases, promoting more complete recovery of human remains and the accuracy of forensic reconstructions of peri- and postmortem events.
Dr. Elizabeth A. DiGangi received her bachelor’s degree in anthropology and history, magna cum laude, from the State University of New York at Buffalo. While working on her bachelor’s degree, she was one of the recipients of the Howard Hughes Undergraduate Fellowship in Biology where she received her first scientific research experience. She went on to earn a Master’s of Arts degree from the same institution in physical anthropology where she was an Arthur Schomburg Graduate Fellow. Following her Master’s, she moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to earn her doctorate from The University of Tennessee. She has taught extensively, either as an assistant or full instructor of several courses including Human Anatomy and Physiology, Primate Dissections, Human Origins, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Introduction to Physical Anthropology, Prehistoric Archaeology, and of a historical archaeological field school course. While at UT, she was awarded with several consecutive graduate teaching assistantships from both the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She is a member of several honor societies, recipient of several merit-based travel awards, and recipient of the Tennessee Valley Authority Graduate Scholar in Archaeology award. She became tenure-track instructor of Anthropology at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville before completing her doctorate degree. Dr. DiGangi currently lives and works in Bogotá, Colombia, where she is contracted as a consultant for the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (IC
- Examines scavenging behavior through an evolutionary and ecological lens, integrating research from diverse fields
- Includes brief summaries of the taphonomic signatures and ecological contexts of common or well-studied North American scavenging taxa
- Proposes strategies to maximize the recovery of vertebrate-scavenged human remains and improve forensic reconstructions of peri- and postmortem events
Date de parution : 11-2017
Ouvrage de 232 p.
15x22.8 cm
Thème de Forensic Taphonomy and Ecology of North American Scavengers :
Mots-clés :
Actualistic research; Adaptation; Animal behavior; Anthropogenic activity; Association; Bears; Behavior; Best practices; Bite mark analysis; Canids; Carrion; Carrion ecology; Cervids; Climate; Community composition; Competition; Context; Corvids; Crocodilians; Daubert trilogy; Death investigation; Decision-making; Dental morphology; Desert tortoises; Documentation; Ecology; Error; Evidentiary standards; Evolution; Experimental research; Facultative scavenger; Faunal evidence; Felids; Foraging strategy; Foraging theory; Forensic anthropology; Forensic archaeology; Forensic reconstruction; Genetic identification; Human identification; Multidisciplinary training; Mustelids; Natural experiments; Nile monitors; Obligate scavenger; Opossums; Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSACs); Porcupines; Postmortem damage; Postmortem interval; Provenience; Raccoons; Recovery; Resource pulse; Rodents; Scatter pattern; Scavenger guild; Scavengers; Search; Search cost; Sharks; Stratification; Suids; Taphonomic signature; Taphonomy; Time since death; Tooth mark; Trauma analysis; Vertebrate scavenging; Vultures; Wolverines