succession on corpses- lqc 1b

Question 1

describe and explain the main stages of succession of a mammalian body and the organisms you would expect to be involved step 1

Answer 1

1) first stage is the colonisers- anaerobic respiration, enzymes from lysosomes break down cells releasing cell contents on which anaerobic bacteria grow, as more cells are broken down the bacteria spread, conditions have changed for colonisations of new species

Question 2

describe and explain the main stages of succession of a mammalian body and the organisms you would expect to be involved step 2

Answer 2

fly species move in, eggs are laid and the larvae (maggots) feed on the tissues, breaking them down still further, conditions have changed again

Question 3

describe and explain the main stages of succession of a mammalian body and the organisms you would expect to be involved step 3

Answer 3

as the body liquefies, adult flies can feed on it too

Question 4

describe and explain the main stages of succession of a mammalian body and the organisms you would expect to be involved step 4

Answer 4

beetles arrive whole larvae feed on the maggots, parasitic wasps lay their eggs on the larvae

Question 5

describe and explain the main stages of succession of a mammalian body and the organisms you would expect to be involved step 5

Answer 5

as the body is eaten away and dries out the conditions change again, cheese flies and coffin flies move in

Question 6

describe and explain the main stages of succession of a mammalian body and the organisms you would expect to be involved step 6

Answer 6

when the body is too dry it can no longer support fly larvae, beetle species with strong chewing mouthparts move in

Question 7

describe and explain the main stages of succession of a mammalian body and the organisms you would expect to be involved step 7

Answer 7

at the end, mites and moth larvae feed on the hair until only the dry bones are left

Question 8

similarities in succession of insects on the human body compared to plant succession

Answer 8

in both changes in conditions occur to suit different species which change with time

Question 9

differences in succession on insects on the human body compare to plant succession

Answer 9

• unlike plant succession, where many of the early species are replaced as conditions change, most of the early insects remain on the body until the advanced stage of decay
• on a sandy shore can see all the serial stages, but in body can see only one stage