Articles | Volume 16, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3929-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3929-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
11 Oct 2019
Research article |
| 11 Oct 2019
| 11 Oct 2019
Spatial changes in soil stable isotopic composition in response to carrion decomposition
University of Tennessee, Department of Biosystems Engineering and
Soil Science, 2506 E.J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
current address: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology,
Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, 501 E. St. Joseph Street,
Rapid City, SD 57701, USA
Sean M. Schaeffer
University of Tennessee, Department of Biosystems Engineering and
Soil Science, 2506 E.J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
University of Tennessee, Department of Biosystems Engineering and
Soil Science, 2506 E.J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
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Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) of human skin during decomposition R. Pawlowski et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112871
- Comparative Decomposition of Humans and Pigs: Soil Biogeochemistry, Microbial Activity and Metabolomic Profiles J. DeBruyn et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.608856
- Transient hypoxia drives soil microbial community dynamics and biogeochemistry during human decomposition L. Taylor et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiae119
- Monitoring the dead as an ecosystem indicator T. Newsome et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7542
- Season matters: Timing of cadaver deposition influences soil biogeochemical changes in a temperate human taphonomic facility E. Pecsi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112720
- Elephant megacarcasses increase local nutrient pools in African savanna soils and plants C. Reed et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1583-2025
- Temporal Changes in the Function of Bacterial Assemblages Associated With Decomposing Earthworms Y. Sun & Y. Ge https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.682224
- The influence of vertebrate scavengers on leakage of nutrients from carcasses E. Wenting et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-024-05608-w
- From carrion to soil: microbial recycling of animal carcasses J. DeBruyn et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2024.09.003
- Effects of elk and bison carcasses on soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions in Yellowstone, USA A. Risch et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13611
- Body Mass Index (BMI) Impacts Soil Chemical and Microbial Response to Human Decomposition A. Mason et al. https://doi.org/10.1128/msphere.00325-22
- Thermodynamic stabilities of apatite phases in a wetland system: Implications for bone diagenesis S. Keenan https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105546
- Human cadaver decomposition islands and forensic taphonomy: gravesoil δ13C and δ15N enrichment patterns in short (30 d) and extended (900 d) postmortem intervals K. Miles et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/fsr/owaf027
- At the Interface of Life and Death: Post-mortem and Other Applications of Vaginal, Skin, and Salivary Microbiome Analysis in Forensics S. Ahannach et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.694447
- Leakage of Nutrients Into The Soil Due to Carrion Decomposition Can Enhance Plant Growth E. Wenting et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01430-0
- Microbial community coalescence and nitrogen cycling in simulated mortality decomposition hotspots S. Keenan et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-023-00451-y
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) of human skin during decomposition R. Pawlowski et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112871
- Comparative Decomposition of Humans and Pigs: Soil Biogeochemistry, Microbial Activity and Metabolomic Profiles J. DeBruyn et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.608856
- Transient hypoxia drives soil microbial community dynamics and biogeochemistry during human decomposition L. Taylor et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiae119
- Monitoring the dead as an ecosystem indicator T. Newsome et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7542
- Season matters: Timing of cadaver deposition influences soil biogeochemical changes in a temperate human taphonomic facility E. Pecsi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112720
- Elephant megacarcasses increase local nutrient pools in African savanna soils and plants C. Reed et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1583-2025
- Temporal Changes in the Function of Bacterial Assemblages Associated With Decomposing Earthworms Y. Sun & Y. Ge https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.682224
- The influence of vertebrate scavengers on leakage of nutrients from carcasses E. Wenting et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-024-05608-w
- From carrion to soil: microbial recycling of animal carcasses J. DeBruyn et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2024.09.003
- Effects of elk and bison carcasses on soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions in Yellowstone, USA A. Risch et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13611
- Body Mass Index (BMI) Impacts Soil Chemical and Microbial Response to Human Decomposition A. Mason et al. https://doi.org/10.1128/msphere.00325-22
- Thermodynamic stabilities of apatite phases in a wetland system: Implications for bone diagenesis S. Keenan https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105546
- Human cadaver decomposition islands and forensic taphonomy: gravesoil δ13C and δ15N enrichment patterns in short (30 d) and extended (900 d) postmortem intervals K. Miles et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/fsr/owaf027
- At the Interface of Life and Death: Post-mortem and Other Applications of Vaginal, Skin, and Salivary Microbiome Analysis in Forensics S. Ahannach et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.694447
- Leakage of Nutrients Into The Soil Due to Carrion Decomposition Can Enhance Plant Growth E. Wenting et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01430-0
- Microbial community coalescence and nitrogen cycling in simulated mortality decomposition hotspots S. Keenan et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-023-00451-y
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 30 May 2026
Short summary
Decaying animals perturb soil biogeochemical cycles. Stable δ15N composition, which reflects the sum of all biogeochemical processes, increases during decay and persists for years. Enrichment following beaver decay persisted after at least 1 year, and was evident up to 10 cm depth and 60 cm from the decaying animals, beyond where soils were visibly impacted by decomposition. Nutrients sourced from decaying animals represent an integral and long–lived component of nitrogen cycling in soils.
Decaying animals perturb soil biogeochemical cycles. Stable δ15N composition, which reflects...
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