Decomp Stage Helper

Score each body region

Select the description that best matches the observed condition for each region. Criteria are verbatim from Megyesi et al. (2005), Tables 2–4. Each region is scored independently — you do not need to select the same category across all three.

Accumulated Degree-Days (ADD)

ADD = Σ max(0, T̄ᵢ − T_base) for each day i. The base temperature for most decomposition studies is 0°C; entomological PMI methods often use 10°C. Temperature should be recorded at the body surface, not ambient air.

TBS scores

PMI estimate — Megyesi et al. (2005) regression

log10(ADD) = 0.002 × TBS² + 1.81   adj. r² = 0.845 · n = 66 · SE = ±388 ADD

Cross-check: scored TBS vs. ADD-implied TBS

Inverts the Megyesi regression to estimate the TBS that would be predicted from your entered ADD, then compares it to your scored TBS. Large divergence suggests scoring error, incomplete temperature records, or conditions outside the model's validation range.

Metadata export

Copy-ready metadata formatted per the conventions described in Decomposition 'stage' should be a continuous variable. Paste directly into a sample metadata sheet or analysis script.

# Score body regions and/or calculate ADD above to generate metadata