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08-06 Task1

The document outlines a forensic science exercise involving the calculation of accumulated degree hours (ADH) based on weather data for Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to estimate the postmortem interval for a body found on May 21, 2020. It includes tables for mean temperatures and ADH calculations for both an experimental pig sample and a case study of a deceased individual. The document also poses questions regarding the life cycle stages of black blow flies and the implications of ADH findings on estimating the time of death.

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lilly.patterson1982
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22 views4 pages

08-06 Task1

The document outlines a forensic science exercise involving the calculation of accumulated degree hours (ADH) based on weather data for Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to estimate the postmortem interval for a body found on May 21, 2020. It includes tables for mean temperatures and ADH calculations for both an experimental pig sample and a case study of a deceased individual. The document also poses questions regarding the life cycle stages of black blow flies and the implications of ADH findings on estimating the time of death.

Uploaded by

lilly.patterson1982
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: School:

Date: Facilitator:

8.06 Accumulated Degree Hours (50 Points)


Case 1
Use the Weather Data for Tuscaloosa, Alabama to fill in the Mean Temperatures in the
table below. Then calculate the accumulated degree hours for each day.
(19.5 points, 0.5 points per cell)

Table 1: Accumulated Degree Day Calculations for Experimental Pig Sample


ADD Calculation
Mean ADH Acc. Degree Acc. Degree
Day Temp. Calculation Hours (Add up ADH values) Days
May 1 62 62° X 24 1512 1512 + 0 1488

May 2 67.5 67.5° X 24 1620 1488 + 1620 3108

May 3 71.5 3108 +

May 4

May 5

May 6

May 7

May 8

May 9

May 10

May 11

May 12

© ACCESS Virtual Learning 2021


Adapted from "Forensic Science: Estimating Postmortem Interval" by Candice Chambers, North Carolina School of
Science and Mathematics, which is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
2

May 13

May 14

May 15

Use the calculations you generated in Table 1 of this activity and Table 2 to answer the
questions below.

Table 2: Estimated Thermal Energy Requirements


for the Life Cycle of the Black Blow Fly

Thermal Energy Required


Stage in the Life Cycle (ADH)

Egg Less than 950

1st Instar 950 - 1770

2nd Instar 2,280 - 4,484

3rd Instar 3,990 - 9912

Pupa 15,010 - 23,364

Adult Fly 33,440 – 38,468

1. If human remains were placed outside in Tuscaloosa on May 1, which stage of the insect
life cycle would the blow flies would be in on the dates selected below? (0.5 points each,
5 points)
May 1 May 6
May 2 May 7
May 3 May 8
May 4 May 9
May 5 May 10

2. Were there days in which the insects did not advance to the next growth stage in the life
cycle? Why might this occur? ? (2 points)

© ACCESS Virtual Learning 2021


Adapted from "Forensic Science: Estimating Postmortem Interval" by Candice Chambers, North Carolina School of
Science and Mathematics, which is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
3

Case 2
The body of an unidentified African American female was found in the woods of Tuscaloosa
County, Alabama on May 21, 2020 at 12 noon. There was an incised wound to the left side of the
neck, though no additional injuries were apparent. It appeared that the body had been at the scene
for several days. An entomologist from the University of Alabama was called to the scene. He
identified several larvae from the woman’s neck wound as black blow fly larvae in the 3rd instar.
No pupa were found. Use the weather data for Tuscaloosa, Alabama to complete ADH
calculations. Compare that with the ADH requirements and determine how long the woman’s
body has been present at the scene. (19.5 points, 0.5 per cell)
Note that in this case, scientists are working backward from the day the body was found to
determine how many days have passed.

Mean ADH Acc. Degree ADH


Day Temp. Calculation Hours (Add up ADH values) Total ADH
May 21 70.0 70.0 X 12 840 840 + 0 840
May 20 64.5 64.5 X 24 1548 1548 + 840
May 19 68.0 68.0 x 24
May 18

May 17

May 16

May 15

May 14

May 13

May 12

May 11

May 10

Use the calculations you generated and Table 2 to answer the questions below.

© ACCESS Virtual Learning 2021


Adapted from "Forensic Science: Estimating Postmortem Interval" by Candice Chambers, North Carolina School of
Science and Mathematics, which is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
4

3. Based on the specimens collected by the entomologist and your ADD calculations, when
did the blowflies lay the first eggs? (2 points)
4. If the entomologist had found pupa, when would you estimate the eggs had been laid? (2
points)

© ACCESS Virtual Learning 2021


Adapted from "Forensic Science: Estimating Postmortem Interval" by Candice Chambers, North Carolina School of
Science and Mathematics, which is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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