Fundamentals of Aquatic Entomology

rotting fish covered in insects

This course is designed to explore the various ways that insects and related arthropods in aquatic environments can and have been used as evidence in a court of law, as well as how they can assist in solving crimes. In this course, participants will learn the basics of aquatic insect biology, succession and ecology, and learn the different stages of carrion decomposition in aquatic environments, concentrating on the independent variables of importance (e.g., factors relative to the environment and/or to the corpse itself) that affect the postmortem submerged interval (PMSI). A review of the major aquatic invertebrate players used in assisting with crime scene investigations will be discussed. The course will also cover several actual cases, photographs,and videos involved in aquatic forensic entomology.

Course Objectives

Objectives are to finish this course with a better understanding and knowledge of:

1) the scope of aquatic forensic entomology; 2) how aquatic insects and related arthropods can become valuable evidence in a court of law; 3) the biology and life histories of selected aquatic invertebrates of aquatic forensic importance; and 4) actual case histories that have involved the use of aquatic insects as evidence in a court of law as well as how they can assist in solving crimes.

Topics

Section 1: An Introduction to The Role of Aquatic Insects and other Invertebrates in Forensic Investigations

This section will discuss the definition and scope of aquatic forensic entomology in the current day and will cover: 1) the various ways in which aquatic insects and related invertebrates can be used as evidence in a court of law; 2) the fact that in the past most forensic cases have dealt with terrestrial organisms, whereby marine and freshwater ecosystem fauna have received little attention; and 3) the hypothesis that there appear to be no specialized necrophagous taxa among aquatic insects in contrast to terrestrial environments.

Section 2: Characterization of the Stages of Decomposition in Aquatic Environments

This section will focus on what we know about carrion in aquatic systems and we will describe the five stages of decomposition in aquatic environments: 1) Submerged fresh; 2) Early floating; 3) Early floating decay; 4) Advanced floating decay, and 5) Sunken remains. We will also contrast the decomposition in freshwater versus marine environments.

Section 3.  Environmental Factors Influencing Aquatic Decomposition: Part 1. Physical/Chemical Mechanisms

This section will discuss the physical and chemical parameters involved in aquatic decomposition and how they influence the decomposition rate. These include: 1) temperature; 2) oxygen content of the water; 3) hydrologic conditions (e.g., length of hydroperiod, water management, and currents); 4) chemical factors (e.g., pH and salinity); and 5) factors associated with the corpse itself (e.g., clothing and trauma).

Section 4. Environmental Factors Influencing Aquatic Decomposition: Part 2. Biological Mechanisms

This section will discuss the biological mechanisms involved in aquatic decomposition and how they influence the decomposition rate. These include: 1) the role of microorganisms (primarily bacteria, fungi, or periphyton (attached algae) in the decomposition process; 2) the influence of decomposing remains on nutrient dynamics through the excretion of nitrogenous wastes into aquatic ecosystems; and 3) the role of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the decomposition process. It will also further explain the concept of estimating the Postmortem Submergence Interval (PMSI).

Section 5: Aquatic Invertebrates Associated with Forensic Entomology

This section will discuss the major groups of macroinvertebratesinvolved in the decomposition of remains in both freshwater and marine ecosystems, and the differences in fauna that exist between these two habitats.

Section 6: Forensic Aquatic Entomology: Part I. Case Histories

This section will discuss the wide variety of cases dealing with aquatic insects in forensic cases concentrating on those cases that we have been involved in over the years. These will include some photographs and videos as well.

Section 7: Forensic Aquatic Entomology: Part 2. Case Histories

This section will continue to discuss the wide variety of cases dealing with aquatic insects in forensic cases concentrating on those cases that we have been involved in over the years. These will include some photographs and videos as well.

Section 8: Forensic Aquatic Entomology: Part 3. Case Histories and Conclusions

This last section will continue to discuss the wide variety of cases dealing with aquatic insects in forensic cases that the two authors have been involved with or had knowledge of over the years. These will include some photographs and videos as well. Conclusions of this course also will be presented.

Instructors

Richard W. Merritt, PhD, D-ABFE

Dr. Richard W. Merritt, Ph.D. is currently University Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Michigan State University specializing in forensic entomology and aquatic entomology.  He has conducted extensive research and published papers and book chapters in forensic entomology and assisted police departments, detectives, and governmental agencies with death scene investigations and other areas of forensic science involving insects. He has taught courses in forensic entomology and has testified as an expert witness in over 4trials involving forensic insects in criminal cases, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Entomology (ABFE), and a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). He also has received the Life Time Achievement Award from this Academy. He has appeared on Discovery Channel’s New Detectives, Court TV, CBS Early Morning Show, Cold Case Files, and CSI Special Features.

Martin B. Berg, Ph.D.

Dr. Martin B. Berg, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Loyola University Chicago where he teaches courses in aquatic entomology, stream ecology, general ecology, and biostatistics and experimental design. He specializes in aquatic entomology, particularly the Chironomidae (non-biting midges), and the role of insects in energy flow of aquatic ecosystems. He is co-editor of the book, An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America, and has published numerous book chapters and research papers on topics including the control of nuisance aquatic insects, the influence of spawning salmon on stream productivity, and the impact of invasive species on aquatic systems. 

Register

Registration is online – It’s fast, safe and convenient. To register with your Visa, MasterCard, or American Express, please visit our secure, online registration website:

Registration Fee: $250

Credits: 8 CE Hours / 0.8 CEUs

Getting Started

Outline and Schedule

Delivery

  • This course is taught entirely online as a self-paced independent study. The course will be delivered using the UF centrally supported learning management system, eLearning. Students can access eLearning by visiting https://elearning.ufl.edu/, clicking the blue “Log In to Continuing Education Button”, and logging in with the information used to enroll in the course.

 Requirements for Course Completion

  • In order to earn credit for this course, participants must complete a self-assessment evaluation at the end of each section and pass a final exam with a score of 80% or higher. Three chances to pass the course will be given. If a passing score is not earned by the third attempt, the participant must re-enroll in the course.

Contact

If you have issues with the course content, please reach out to the contact listed below. Please allow 48 hours for a response.

  • Email: jhbyrd@ufl.edu
  • Phone: (352) 265-0680 ext. 72047

For any additional questions, please contact the Maples Center Administrative Team.