Carrion Insects
For this body of work I consulted with ecologsit Dr Philip Barton, Senior Research Fellow at The Australian National University. Dr Barton is researching how insects affect carrion decomposition and the role that carrion plays in supporting biodiversity within Australian grassy woodland ecosystems. He refers to carrion as ‘patches of opportunity’: the carrion gives life to insects and returns nutrients to the soil. Without the insects, carcasses would litter the landscape. The insects photographed and shown here were collected by Dr Barton from a kangaroo carcass, and represent different waves of colonisation.
This work was made possible by The Australian National University Vice-Chancellor’s College Artist Fellow Scheme.