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The rate of decomposition is governed by three sets of factors: the physical environment (temperature, moisture and soil properties), the quantity and quality of the dead material available to decomposers, and the nature of the microbial community itself. [64] Decomposition rates are low under very wet or very dry conditions.
Factors affecting decomposition include water depth, temperature, tides, currents, seasons, dissolved oxygen, geology, acidity, salinity, sedimentation, and insect and scavenging activity. [18] Human remains found in aquatic surroundings are often incomplete and poorly preserved, making investigating the circumstances of death much more ...
The human body is composed of approximately: 64% water, 20% protein, 10% fat, 1% carbohydrate, 5% minerals. [1] The decomposition of soft tissue is characterized by the breakdown of these macromolecules, and thus a large proportion of the decomposition products should reflect the amount of protein and fat content initially present in the body. [4]
Decomposition rates vary among ecosystems. [21] The rate of decomposition is governed by three sets of factors—the physical environment (temperature, moisture, and soil properties), the quantity and quality of the dead material available to decomposers, and the nature of the microbial community itself.
Key factors affecting the rate of biological decomposition of sinking POC in the water column are water temperature and the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration: the lower the water temperature and the DO concentration, the slower the biological respiration rate and, consequently, the POC flux decomposition rate.
A closed, anaerobic environment (lacking oxygen/airtight container) can also slow decomposition as bacteria responsible for much of the tissue breakdown need oxygen.
Factors include light, water, oxygen and temperature. [10] The degradation rate of many organic compounds is limited by their bioavailability, which is the rate at which a substance is absorbed into a system or made available at the site of physiological activity, [11] as compounds must be released into solution before organisms can degrade ...
Chemical decomposition is a function of mineral solubility, the rate of which doubles with each 10 °C rise in temperature but is strongly dependent on water to effect chemical changes. Rocks that will decompose in a few years in tropical climates will remain unaltered for millennia in deserts. [ 23 ]