Publication details
Změny porozity kostní tkáně v důsledku posmrtné mikrobiální dekompozice
| Title in English | Changes in the bone porosity as a result of postmortem microbial decompositon |
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| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Citation | |
| Description | The microbial attack occurs shortly after the death in the early stage of fossilization and can rapidly lead to complete destruction of the bone. Microorganisms therefore largely determine whether the bone will be preserved into the fossl record. Traces of microorganisms activity are widely found in subfosil and less frequently in fossil bones in the form of microscopic focal destruction (MFD) and tunnels (Hackett, 1981, Jans 2008, Turner-Walker 2012). The aim of this research was to verify the early diagenesis changes in the microstructure of the bone caused by microbial attack as a result of decomposition of bone organic components. The abundant amount of fungal structures was captured on the surface of the bone tissue, which allowed to natural decomposition for 4 months. Initial activity of the fungi caused extensive cracks in the mineralized bone tissue. Increased values of spongiform porosity viewed through the mercury intrusion porosimetry indicate early bacterial degradation of the bone tissue, which was also confirmed by the rare occurrences of the mdf in the bone cut. The results show that the environment with good air circulation and moisture presented optimal conditions for the occurrence and reproduction of microorganisms. Microorganisms may leave a number of changes in the microstructure of the bone, already at such a short period of time - four months since the death of the cattle. |