ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the development of ecological theory from the pioneering studies in plant and animal ecology, to the modern theoretical framework that describes current understanding of how communities are formed and evolve over space and time. The degree of variability within community assembly in a given biogeoclimatic zone, habitat, and circumstances must be considered when estimates of post-mortem interval are made. Ecologists recognize that many factors affect the species composition of a given community, with no single factor providing a complete explanation for observed patterns. The species present in a regional species pool do not remain static over time. The process of community assembly depends on the population sizes of species in the regional species pool, their ability to disperse into the community, the area of the community, and its distance from the species pool. Carrion systems are ideal models for testing community assembly due to the rapid community turn over in comparison with more traditional model systems.
