Paleonet: burial of large carcass

[Stephen Carey]

Dear Kim,

Any suggestions (see below)?

Regards,

Stephen


Stephen Carey
Geology Department
University of Ballarat
PO Box 663
Ballarat   Vic   3350
Australia
tel +61-3-5327 9268
fax +61-3-5327 9144
e-mail s.carey at ballarat.edu.au


>>> "Esperante, Raul (LLU)" <resperante at llu.edu> 18/12/2007 11:04 am >>>
Dear paleonetters:
 
I have a question related to experimental taphonomy.
 
I'm planning on burying a medium- to large-sized carcass of a marine animal (whale, dolphin, turtle) on a beach on a relatively isolated area, outside of human influence, and then monitor it for water chemistry as it decomposes over time. I wonder if any of you have done that or know of any similar experiments in the past or present, which could provide some orientation. The idea is ascertain the changes that happen in the pore water and sediment around the decaying carcass, changes that could affect potential fossilization. Since marine carccasses of these sizes are rare to get and we must act really quickly, I want to avoid mistakes and maximize both efforts and outcome. A colleague told me to bury some PVC pipes in vertical position and at different distances from the carcass, then at regular intervals of time retrieve some pore water and analyze it for chemical content. Maybe I should contact people working at environmental departments or agencies, but where or who? 
 
I would appreciate any suggestion.
 
Raúl Esperante, PhD
Paleontologist
resperante at llu.edu