TY - JOUR
T1 - The potential of bioacoustics for surveying carrion insects
AU - Gorgeva, Elena
AU - Robertson, James
AU - Voss, Sasha
AU - Hoogewerff, Jurian
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Knowledge of the sequential cadaver colonization by carrion insects is fundamental for post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation. Creating local empirical data on succession by trapping insects is time consuming, dependent on accessibility/environmental conditions and can be biased by sampling practices including disturbance to decomposing remains and sampling interval. To overcome these limitations, audio identification of species using their wing beats is being evaluated as a potential tool to survey and build local databases of carrion species. The results could guide the focus of forensic entomologists for further developmental studies on the local dominant species, and ultimately to improve PMI estimations. However, there are challenges associated with this approach that must be addressed. Wing beat frequency is influenced by both abiotic and biotic factors including temperature, humidity, age, size, and sex. The audio recording and post-processing must be customized for different species and their influencing factors. Furthermore, detecting flight sounds amid background noise and a multitude of species in the field can pose an additional challenge. Nonetheless, previous studies have successfully identified several fly species based on wing beat sounds. Combined with advances in machine learning, the analysis of bioacoustics data is likely to offer a powerful diagnostic tool for use in species identification.
AB - Knowledge of the sequential cadaver colonization by carrion insects is fundamental for post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation. Creating local empirical data on succession by trapping insects is time consuming, dependent on accessibility/environmental conditions and can be biased by sampling practices including disturbance to decomposing remains and sampling interval. To overcome these limitations, audio identification of species using their wing beats is being evaluated as a potential tool to survey and build local databases of carrion species. The results could guide the focus of forensic entomologists for further developmental studies on the local dominant species, and ultimately to improve PMI estimations. However, there are challenges associated with this approach that must be addressed. Wing beat frequency is influenced by both abiotic and biotic factors including temperature, humidity, age, size, and sex. The audio recording and post-processing must be customized for different species and their influencing factors. Furthermore, detecting flight sounds amid background noise and a multitude of species in the field can pose an additional challenge. Nonetheless, previous studies have successfully identified several fly species based on wing beat sounds. Combined with advances in machine learning, the analysis of bioacoustics data is likely to offer a powerful diagnostic tool for use in species identification.
KW - acoustic identification
KW - bioacoustics
KW - Forensic entomology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85180187391&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00450618.2023.2295447
DO - 10.1080/00450618.2023.2295447
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85180187391
SN - 0045-0618
JO - Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences
JF - Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences
ER -