Improving Marine Ecosystem Models with Biochemical Tracers

• Published in: Annual review of marine science 2018-01, Vol.10 (1), p.199-228
• Main Authors: Pethybridge, Heidi R, Choy, C. Anela, Polovina, Jeffrey J, Fulton, Elizabeth A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry; biomarkers; Composition; Content analysis; Data; Dynamics; Ecological monitoring; Ecology - methods; Ecosystem; Ecosystem models; Empirical analysis; Environment models; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Food; Food Chain; Food chains; Food webs; Foods; Interactions; Interspecific relationships; Isotope Labeling - trends; Isotopes; Marine ecosystems; Marine resources; Mathematical models; Microorganisms; model assessment; Models, Biological; Niches; Parameter estimation; Predator prey relations; Predator-prey interactions; Predators; Prey; Resource management; Robustness (mathematics); Spatial distribution; Stable isotopes; Statistical analysis; Stomach; Stomach content; Strategic management; Structural analysis; Temporal variations; Tissue; Trace elements; Trace Elements - metabolism; trace metals; Tracer techniques; Tracers; trophic ecology; trophodynamics
• ISSN: 1941-1405; 1941-0611
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-121916-063256

Empirical data on food web dynamics and predator-prey interactions underpin ecosystem models, which are increasingly used to support strategic management of marine resources. These data have traditionally derived from stomach content analysis, but new and complementary forms of ecological data are increasingly available from biochemical tracer techniques. Extensive opportunities exist to improve the empirical robustness of ecosystem models through the incorporation of biochemical tracer data and derived indices, an area that is rapidly expanding because of advances in analytical developments and sophisticated statistical techniques. Here, we explore the trophic information required by ecosystem model frameworks (species, individual, and size based) and match them to the most commonly used biochemical tracers (bulk tissue and compound-specific stable isotopes, fatty acids, and trace elements). Key quantitative parameters derived from biochemical tracers include estimates of diet composition, niche width, and trophic position. Biochemical tracers also provide powerful insight into the spatial and temporal variability of food web structure and the characterization of dominant basal and microbial food web groups. A major challenge in incorporating biochemical tracer data into ecosystem models is scale and data type mismatches, which can be overcome with greater knowledge exchange and numerical approaches that transform, integrate, and visualize data.