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Converting isotope values to diet composition - the use of mixing models
Citation:
PHILLIPS, D. L. Converting isotope values to diet composition - the use of mixing models. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY. American Society of Mammalogists, Provo, UT, 93(2):342-352, (2012).
Impact/Purpose:
A common use of stable isotope analysis in mammalogy is to make inferences about diet from isotopic values (typically δ13C and δ15N) measured in a consumer’s tissues and its food sources.
Description:
A common use of stable isotope analysis in mammalogy is to make inferences about diet from isotopic values (typically δ13C and δ15N) measured in a consumer’s tissues and its food sources. Mathematical mixing models are used to estimate the proportional contributions of food sources to the isotopic composition of the consumer’s tissues, which reflect the assimilated diet. This paper reviews basic mixing models and how they work; additional refinements are also described that include addressing uncertainty, larger numbers of sources, concentration effects, and Bayesian statistical frameworks. Numerous examples are cited to show application of these models in the mammal research literature.
