Converting isotope values to diet composition: the use of mixing models

A common use of stable isotope analysis in mammalogy is to make inferences about diet from isotope values (typically δ13C and δ15N) measured in tissues and food sources of a consumer. Mathematical mixing models are used to estimate the proportional contributions of food sources to the isotopic compo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of mammalogy 2012-04, Vol.93 (2), p.342-352
Main Author: Phillips, Donald L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Aquatic plants
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Diet
Ecological modeling
Environmental protection
Food
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Isotopes
Mammalia
Mammalogy
Mammals
Marine ecology
mixing model
Physiological assimilation
Proportions
SPECIAL FEATURE
Stable isotopes
Studies
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
Zoology
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Summary:A common use of stable isotope analysis in mammalogy is to make inferences about diet from isotope values (typically δ13C and δ15N) measured in tissues and food sources of a consumer. Mathematical mixing models are used to estimate the proportional contributions of food sources to the isotopic composition of the tissues of a consumer, which reflect the assimilated diet. This paper reviews basic mixing models and how they work; additional refinements also are described that include addressing uncertainty, larger numbers of sources, combining sources, concentration effects, and Bayesian statistical frameworks. Information is provided on where to access software for the various models. Numerous examples are cited to show application of these models in the mammal research literature.
ISSN:0022-2372
1545-1542
DOI:10.1644/11-MAMM-S-158.1