Resource type
Date created
2011
Authors/Contributors
Author: Moore, Jonathan
Author: Yeakel, Justin
Author: Novak, Mark
Author: Guimarães, Paulo
Author: Dominy, Nathaniel
Author: Koch, Paul
Author: Ward, Eric
Author: Semmens, Eric
Abstract
BackgroundBayesian mixing models have allowed for the inclusion of uncertainty and prior information in the analysis of trophic interactions using stable isotopes. Formulating prior distributions is relatively straightforward when incorporating dietary data. However, the use of data that are related, but not directly proportional, to diet (such as prey availability data) is often problematic because such information is not necessarily predictive of diet, and the information required to build a reliable prior distribution for all prey species is often unavailable. Omitting prey availability data impacts the estimation of a predator's diet and introduces the strong assumption of consumer ultrageneralism (where all prey are consumed in equal proportions), particularly when multiple prey have similar isotope values.MethodologyWe develop a procedure to incorporate prey availability data into Bayesian mixing models conditional on the similarity of isotope values between two prey. If a pair of prey have similar isotope values (resulting in highly uncertain mixing model results), our model increases the weight of availability data in estimating the contribution of prey to a predator's diet. We test the utility of this method in an intertidal community against independently measured feeding rates.ConclusionsOur results indicate that our weighting procedure increases the accuracy by which consumer diets can be inferred in situations where multiple prey have similar isotope values. This suggests that the exchange of formalism for predictive power is merited, particularly when the relationship between prey availability and a predator's diet cannot be assumed for all species in a system.
Document
Published as
Yeakel JD, Novak M, Guimarães PR Jr, Dominy NJ, Koch PL, et al. (2011) Merging Resource Availability with Isotope Mixing Models: The Role of Neutral Interaction Assumptions. PLoS ONE 6(7): e22015. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022015
Publication details
Publication title
PLoS ONE
Document title
Merging Resource Availability with Isotope Mixing Models: The Role of Neutral Interaction Assumptions
Date
2011
Volume
6
Issue
7
Publisher DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0022015
Copyright statement
Copyright is held by the author(s).
Scholarly level
Peer reviewed?
Yes
Language
English
Member of collection
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