Fig. 1

a Schematic of initial and secondary mortality event placement. The initial mortality event was made up of previously placed swine carcasses in increasing biomass at differing sites. Weights refer to the biomass of the initially placed swine biomass that is representing the initial death event. Fenced and unfenced replicates of initial decomposition sites of increasing biomass were constructed at least 100 m apart. Swine in the buckets were placed within 3 m of each initial mortality event site. After transport to the common garden, buckets were placed ~ 1 m apart. b Feral swine covered with insect larvae within enclosed bucket at the 4D timepoint. Insect larvae were allowed access to carcass for 4H at the initial mortality event sites. Swine were then covered in mesh and transported to a common garden