Bacterial succession during corpse decay under rain

Carcass degradation is a common phenomenon in nature. It is a dynamic process mediated by microbial and non-microbial factors. The process of animal corpse decay can be characterized by six phases in soil: fresh, putrefaction, bloated, post-bloating, active decay, dry remain. The timescale of carcass breakdown is mainly regulated by various factors, such as the exposure of the corpse, moisture, and temperature. Among them, moisture is a gravesoil dominant parameter influencing carcass decay. For instance, the carcass decomposition rate of swine in Tropical climate regions was primarily regulated by precipitation. There is little research that suggested that soil moisture content may modify the relationship between cadaver breakdown and temperature. However, how moisture /precipitation directly influences corpse decomposition is unknown. Additionally, it is reported that each square kilometer of land accumulates up to 750 kg of animal carcasses in the rain forest. When the carcass of animals breaks down, a lot of amine compounds are released into the environment and pose a huge threat to human health and the environment. Therefore, it is necessary and important to explore the effects of rainfall on animal corpse breakdown in the soil.