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57-562: (Redirected from Decomposed ) [REDACTED] Look up decomposition , decompose , or perishable in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Biology and ecology [ edit ] Decomposition is the process through which organic matter is broken down into simpler molecules. Biodegradation Decomposition , decompose may also refer to: Chemistry [ edit ] Chemical decomposition or analysis, in chemistry,

114-549: A skeleton varies greatly. Even when a body is decomposed, embalming treatment can still be achieved (the arterial system decays more slowly) but would not restore a natural appearance without extensive reconstruction and cosmetic work, and is largely used to control the foul odors due to decomposition. An animal can be preserved almost perfectly, for millions of years in a resin such as amber . There are some examples where bodies have been inexplicably preserved (with no human intervention) for decades or centuries and appear almost

171-409: A factorization of a matrix into a product of matrices LU decomposition , a type of matrix factorization Permutation decomposition , decomposition of a permutation into disjoint cycles Primary decomposition , decomposition of ideals into primary ideals Vector decomposition , decomposition of vectors into components or coordinates of basis vectors Wavelet decomposition, re-expressing

228-910: A function as the composition of two functions Semantic decomposition (natural language processing) Decompositions: Volume Number One , the second studio album by American screamo band Circle Takes the Square Zersetzung , or decomposition, a debilitative psychological warfare technique utilised by the Stasi intelligence agency in East Germany See also [ edit ] Breakdown (disambiguation) Component (disambiguation) Composite (disambiguation) Composition (disambiguation) Compound (disambiguation) Decay (disambiguation) Food spoilage Indecomposability (disambiguation) All pages with titles containing Decomposition Topics referred to by

285-469: A given function as the sum of a series of wavelet functions Physics [ edit ] Spinodal decomposition , phase separation mechanism Other uses [ edit ] Decomposition (computer science) , or factoring; the process of breaking a complex problem down into easily understood and achievable parts Decomposition method (disambiguation) , solutions of various problems and design of algorithms Functional decomposition , expressing

342-457: A higher proportion of recalcitrant material. Consequently, dead animals decompose more rapidly than dead leaves, which themselves decompose more rapidly than fallen branches. As organic material in the soil ages, its quality decreases. The more labile compounds decompose quickly, leaving an increasing proportion of recalcitrant material called humus . Microbial cell walls also contain recalcitrant materials like chitin , and these also accumulate as

399-468: A larger surface area that can hold water. The higher the water content of a soil, the lower the oxygen content and consequently, the lower the rate of decomposition. Clay minerals also bind particles of organic material to their surface, making them less accessible to microbes. Soil disturbance like tilling increases decomposition by increasing the amount of oxygen in the soil and by exposing new organic matter to soil microbes. The quality and quantity of

456-403: A major role in breaking down matter, both directly and indirectly via a multitrophic cascading effect Following this, the plant detritus (consisting of cellulose , hemicellulose , microbial metabolites , and lignin ) undergoes chemical alteration by microbes. Different types of compounds decompose at different rates. This is dependent on their chemical structure . For instance, lignin

513-455: A non-numerical method for solving nonlinear differential equations Domain decomposition methods in mathematics, numerical analysis, and numerical partial differential equations Cholesky decomposition method Decomposition method in queueing network analysis See also [ edit ] Decomposition (disambiguation) Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with

570-433: A place where the body is buried in organic material and oxygen cannot reach it. This process of putrefaction has a bad odor accompanied by it due to the hydrogen sulfide and organic matter containing sulfur. Embalming is the practice of delaying the decomposition of human and animal remains. Embalming slows decomposition somewhat but does not forestall it indefinitely. Embalmers typically pay great attention to parts of

627-438: A signed measure Helmholtz decomposition , decomposition of a vector field Indecomposable continuum Lebesgue's decomposition theorem , decomposition of a measure Lie group decomposition , used to analyse the structure of Lie groups and associated objects Manifold decomposition , decomposition of manifolds JSJ decomposition , or toral decomposition, a decomposition of 3-manifolds Matrix decomposition ,

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684-536: A slower rate) even after soils become too dry to support plant growth. When the rains return and soils become wet, the osmotic gradient between the bacterial cells and the soil water causes the cells to gain water quickly. Under these conditions, many bacterial cells burst, releasing a pulse of nutrients. Decomposition rates also tend to be slower in acidic soils. Soils which are rich in clay minerals tend to have lower decomposition rates, and thus, higher levels of organic matter. The smaller particles of clay result in

741-410: A stage called rigor mortis . Since blood is no longer being pumped through the body, gravity causes it to drain to the dependent portions of the body, creating an overall bluish-purple discoloration termed livor mortis or, more commonly, lividity. Depending on the position of the body, these parts would vary. For instance, if the person was flat on their back when they died, the blood would collect in

798-410: A time series into several components Doob decomposition theorem of an integrable, discrete-time stochastic process Doob–Meyer decomposition theorem of a continuous-time sub- or supermartingale Fourier decomposition , re-expressing a given periodic function as the sum of a series of trigonometric functions Hahn decomposition theorem of a measure space Jordan decomposition theorem of

855-472: Is a component of wood, which is relatively resistant to decomposition and can in fact only be decomposed by certain fungi , such as the white-rot fungi. Wood decomposition is a complex process involving fungi which transport nutrients to the nutritionally scarce wood from outside environment. Because of this nutritional enrichment, the fauna of saproxylic insects may develop and, in turn, affect dead wood, contributing to decomposition and nutrient cycling in

912-422: Is a positive sign, but it may take several years for the ecosystem to fully recover and return to its pre-disturbance state. All that remains of the cadaver at this stage is dry skin, cartilage , and bones , which will become dry and bleached if exposed to the elements. If all soft tissue is removed from the cadaver, it is referred to as completely skeletonized , but if only portions of the bones are exposed, it

969-405: Is an important field of study within food science . Food decomposition can be slowed down by conservation . The spoilage of meat occurs, if the meat is untreated, in a matter of hours or days and results in the meat becoming unappetizing, poisonous or infectious. Spoilage is caused by the practically unavoidable infection and subsequent decomposition of meat by bacteria and fungi, which are borne by

1026-435: Is characterized by a decrease in the intensity of the disturbance and an increase in the amount of plant growth around the affected area. This is a sign that the nutrients and other ecological resources present in the surrounding soil have not yet returned to their normal levels. During this stage, it is important to monitor the ecosystem for any signs of continued disturbance or ecological stress. The resurgence of plant growth

1083-481: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages decomposition One can differentiate abiotic decomposition from biotic decomposition ( biodegradation ). The former means "the degradation of a substance by chemical or physical processes", e.g., hydrolysis ; the latter means "the metabolic breakdown of materials into simpler components by living organisms", typically by microorganisms. Decomposition begins at

1140-455: Is followed by the necrobiome that undergoes predictable changes over time. Among those animals that have a heart, the fresh stage begins immediately after the heart stops beating. From the moment of death, the body begins cooling or warming to match the temperature of the ambient environment, during a stage called algor mortis . Shortly after death, within three to six hours, the muscular tissues become rigid and incapable of relaxing, during

1197-418: Is not uncommon for bodies to remain preserved to a viewable extent after decades. Notable viewable embalmed bodies include those of: A body buried in a sufficiently dry environment may be well preserved for decades. This was observed in the case for murdered civil rights activist Medgar Evers , who was found to be almost perfectly preserved over 30 years after his death, permitting an accurate autopsy when

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1254-478: Is physical breakup or fragmentation of the plant material into smaller pieces, providing greater surface area for colonization and attack by decomposers . In fallen dead parts of plants ( plant litter ), this process is largely carried out by saprophagous ( detritivorous ) soil invertebrate fauna, whereas in standing parts of plants, primarily parasitic life-forms such as parasitic plants (e.g. mistletoes ), insects (e.g. aphids ) and fungi (e.g. polypores ) play

1311-653: Is referred to as partially skeletonized. A dead body that has been exposed to the open elements, such as water and air, will decompose more quickly and attract much more insect activity than a body that is buried or confined in special protective gear or artifacts. This is due, in part, to the limited number of insects that can penetrate soil and the lower temperatures under the soil. The rate and manner of decomposition in an animal body are strongly affected by several factors. In roughly descending degrees of importance, they are: The speed at which decomposition occurs varies greatly. Factors such as temperature, humidity, and

1368-461: Is the body's accessibility to insects, particularly flies . On the surface in tropical areas, invertebrates alone can easily reduce a fully fleshed corpse to clean bones in under two weeks. The skeleton itself is not permanent; acids in soils can reduce it to unrecognizable components. This is one reason given for the lack of human remains found in the wreckage of the Titanic , even in parts of

1425-434: Is the fragmentation of a chemical compound into elements or smaller compounds Thermal decomposition , chemical decomposition caused by heat Econometrics [ edit ] Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition , a statistical method that explains the difference in the means of a dependent variable between two groups. Mathematics [ edit ] Decomposition of time series , a statistical task that deconstructs

1482-579: The Body Farm ) in Knoxville, Tennessee , has several bodies laid out in various situations in a fenced-in plot near the medical center. Scientists at the Body Farm study how the human body decays in various circumstances to gain a better understanding of decomposition. Decomposition of plant matter occurs in many stages. It begins with leaching by water; the most easily lost and soluble carbon compounds are liberated in this process. Another early process

1539-455: The animal itself, by the people handling the meat, and by their implements. Meat can be kept edible for a much longer time – though not indefinitely – if proper hygiene is observed during production and processing, and if appropriate food safety, food preservation and food storage procedures are applied. Spoilage of food is attributed to contamination from microorganisms such as bacteria, molds and yeasts, along with natural decay of

1596-566: The bacteria that cause putrefaction. In extremely dry or cold conditions, the normal process of decomposition is halted – by either lack of moisture or temperature controls on bacterial and enzymatic action – causing the body to be preserved as a mummy . Frozen mummies commonly restart the decomposition process when thawed (see Ötzi the Iceman ), whilst heat-desiccated mummies remain so unless exposed to moisture. The bodies of newborns who never ingested food are an important exception to

1653-430: The body and create a cadaver decomposition island (CDI). Liquefaction of tissues and disintegration become apparent during this time and strong odors persist. The end of active decay is signaled by the migration of maggots away from the body to pupate. Decomposition is largely inhibited during advanced decay due to the loss of readily available cadaveric material. Insect activity is also reduced during this stage. When

1710-463: The body and provide more surface area for the development of fly larvae and the activity of aerobic microorganisms. The purging of gases and fluids results in the strong distinctive odors associated with decay. Active decay is characterized by the period of greatest mass loss. This loss occurs as a result of both the voracious feeding of maggots and the purging of decomposition fluids into the surrounding environment. The purged fluids accumulate around

1767-411: The body is accessible to insects , mites and other animals. Additionally, soil animals are considered key regulators of decomposition at local scales but their role at larger scales is unresolved. The most important arthropods that are involved in the process include carrion beetles , mites, the flesh-flies (Sarcophagidae) and blow-flies ( Calliphoridae ), such as the green bottle flies seen in

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1824-417: The body seen by mourners , such as the face and hands. The chemicals used in embalming repel most insects and slow down bacterial putrefaction by either killing existing bacteria in or on the body themselves or by fixing cellular proteins, which means that they cannot act as a nutrient source for subsequent bacterial infections. In sufficiently dry environments, an embalmed body may end up mummified and it

1881-412: The body's tissues. Maggot activity, typically confined to natural orifices, and masses under the skin, causes the skin to slip, and hair to detach from the skin. Maggot feeding, and the accumulation of gases within the body, eventually leads to post-mortem skin ruptures which will then further allow purging of gases and fluids into the surrounding environment. Ruptures in the skin allow oxygen to re-enter

1938-462: The breakdown of surrounding cells and tissues. This process is known as autolysis . Visible changes caused by decomposition are limited during the fresh stage, although autolysis may cause blisters to appear at the surface of the skin. The small amount of oxygen remaining in the body is quickly depleted by cellular metabolism and aerobic microbes naturally present in respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, creating an ideal environment for

1995-459: The carcass is located on soil, the area surrounding it will show evidence of vegetation death. The CDI surrounding the carcass will display an increase in soil carbon and nutrients such as phosphorus , potassium , calcium and magnesium ; changes in pH; and a significant increase in soil nitrogen . As the ecosystem recovers from the disturbance, the CDI moves into the dry/remains stage, which

2052-403: The case of his murder was re-opened in the 1990s. Bodies submerged in a peat bog may become naturally embalmed , arresting decomposition and resulting in a preserved specimen known as a bog body . The generally cool and anoxic conditions in these environments limits the rate of microbial activity, thus limiting the potential for decomposition. The time for an embalmed body to be reduced to

2109-414: The distention of the abdomen and gives a cadaver its overall bloated appearance. The gases produced also cause natural liquids and liquefying tissues to become frothy. As the pressure of the gases within the body increases, fluids are forced to escape from natural orifices, such as the nose, mouth and anus, and enter the surrounding environment. The buildup of pressure combined with the loss of integrity of

2166-399: The first carrion insects to arrive and they seek a suitable oviposition site. The bloat stage provides the first clear visual sign that microbial proliferation is underway. In this stage, anaerobic metabolism takes place, leading to the accumulation of gases, such as hydrogen sulfide , carbon dioxide , methane and nitrogen . The accumulation of gases within the bodily cavity causes

2223-411: The food. These decomposition bacteria reproduce at rapid rates under conditions of moisture and preferred temperatures. When the proper conditions are lacking the bacteria may form spores which lurk until suitable conditions arise to continue reproduction. Decomposition rates and speed may differ or vary due to abiotic factors such as moisture level, temperature, and soil type. They also vary depending on

2280-425: The forest floor. Lignin is one such remaining product of decomposing plants with a very complex chemical structure, causing the rate of microbial breakdown to slow. Warmth increases the speed of plant decay by roughly the same amount, regardless of the composition of the plant. In most grassland ecosystems, natural damage from fire , detritivores that feed on decaying matter, termites , grazing mammals, and

2337-436: The initial amount of breakdown caused by the prior consumers in the food chain . This means the form that organic matter is in, original plant or animal, partially eaten, or as faecal matter when the detritivore encounters it. The more broken down the matter, the faster the final decomposition. The rate of decomposition is governed by three sets of factors: the physical environment (temperature, moisture and soil properties),

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2394-489: The material available to decomposers is another major factor that influences the rate of decomposition. Substances like sugars and amino acids decompose readily and are considered labile. Cellulose and hemicellulose , which are broken down more slowly, are "moderately labile". Compounds which are more resistant to decay, like lignin or cutin , are considered recalcitrant. Litter with a higher proportion of labile compounds decomposes much more rapidly than does litter with

2451-658: The microbes die, further reducing the quality of older soil organic matter . Decomposition method (disambiguation) (Redirected from Decomposition method (disambiguation) ) Decomposition method is a generic term for solutions of various problems and design of algorithms in which the basic idea is to decompose the problem into subproblems. The term may specifically refer to: Decomposition method (constraint satisfaction) in constraint satisfaction Decomposition method (multidisciplinary design optimization) in multidisciplinary design optimization Adomian decomposition method ,

2508-482: The moment of death, caused by two factors: autolysis , the breaking down of tissues by the body's own internal chemicals and enzymes , and putrefaction , the breakdown of tissues by bacteria . These processes release compounds such as cadaverine and putrescine , that are the chief source of the unmistakably putrid odor of decaying animal tissue. Prime decomposers are bacteria or fungi , though larger scavengers also play an important role in decomposition if

2565-426: The normal process of decomposition. They lack the internal microbial flora that produces much of decomposition and quite commonly mummify if kept in even moderately dry conditions. Aerobic decomposition takes place in the presence of oxygen. This is most common to occur in nature. Living organisms that use oxygen to survive feed on the body. Anaerobic decomposition takes place in the absence of oxygen. This could be

2622-410: The parts that are touching the ground. If the person was hanging, it would collect in their fingertips, toes and earlobes. Once the heart stops, the blood can no longer supply oxygen or remove carbon dioxide from the tissues. The resulting decrease in pH and other chemical changes cause cells to lose their structural integrity , bringing about the release of cellular enzymes capable of initiating

2679-456: The physical movement of animals through the grass are the primary agents of breakdown and nutrient cycling , while bacteria and fungi play the main roles in further decomposition. The chemical aspects of plant decomposition always involve the release of carbon dioxide . In fact, decomposition contributes over 90 percent of carbon dioxide released each year. The decomposition of food, either plant or animal, called spoilage in this context,

2736-425: The process of decomposition in vertebrate animals: fresh, bloat, active decay, advanced decay, and dry/remains. The general stages of decomposition are coupled with two stages of chemical decomposition: autolysis and putrefaction . These two stages contribute to the chemical process of decomposition , which breaks down the main components of the body. With death the microbiome of the living organism collapses and

2793-431: The proliferation of anaerobic organisms . These multiply, consuming the body's carbohydrates , lipids and proteins , to produce a variety of substances including propionic acid , lactic acid , methane , hydrogen sulfide and ammonia . The process of microbial proliferation within a body is referred to as putrefaction and leads to the second stage of decomposition known as bloat. Blowflies and flesh flies are

2850-481: The quantity and quality of the dead material available to decomposers, and the nature of the microbial community itself. Decomposition rates are low under very wet or very dry conditions. Decomposition rates are highest in damp, moist conditions with adequate levels of oxygen. Wet soils tend to become deficient in oxygen (this is especially true in wetlands ), which slows microbial growth. In dry soils, decomposition slows as well, but bacteria continue to grow (albeit at

2907-485: The same as when they died. In some religious groups, this is known as incorruptibility . It is not known whether or for how long a body can stay free of decay without artificial preservation. Various sciences study the decomposition of bodies under the general rubric of forensic science because the usual motive for such studies is to determine the time and cause of death for legal purposes: The University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility (better known as

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2964-480: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Decomposition . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Decomposition_(disambiguation)&oldid=1253131730 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Mathematics disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

3021-425: The season of death all determine how fast a fresh body will skeletonize or mummify . A basic guide for the effect of environment on decomposition is given as Casper 's Law (or Ratio): if all other factors are equal, then, when there is free access of air a body decomposes twice as fast as if immersed in water and eight times faster than if buried in the earth. Ultimately, the rate of bacterial decomposition acting on

3078-429: The ship considered inaccessible to scavengers. Freshly skeletonized bone is often called green bone and has a characteristic greasy feel. Under certain conditions (underwater, but also cool, damp soil), bodies may undergo saponification and develop a waxy substance called adipocere , caused by the action of soil chemicals on the body's proteins and fats . The formation of adipocere slows decomposition by inhibiting

3135-435: The skin may also cause the body to rupture. Intestinal anaerobic bacteria transform haemoglobin into sulfhemoglobin and other colored pigments. The associated gases which accumulate within the body at this time aid in the transport of sulfhemoglobin throughout the body via the circulatory and lymphatic systems , giving the body an overall marbled appearance. If insects have access, maggots hatch and begin to feed on

3192-510: The summer. In North America, the most important non-insect animals that are typically involved in the process include mammal and bird scavengers, such as coyotes , dogs , wolves , foxes , rats , crows and vultures . Some of these scavengers also remove and scatter bones, which they ingest at a later time. Aquatic and marine environments have break-down agents that include bacteria, fish, crustaceans, fly larvae and other carrion scavengers. Five general stages are typically used to describe

3249-408: The tissue will depend upon the temperature of the surroundings. Colder temperatures decrease the rate of decomposition while warmer temperatures increase it. A dry body will not decompose efficiently. Moisture helps the growth of microorganisms that decompose the organic matter, but too much moisture could lead to anaerobic conditions slowing down the decomposition process. The most important variable

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