[Coral-List] new (and free!) stable isotope mixing model software
Brice Semmens
brice.semmens at noaa.gov
Wed Feb 27 13:59:03 EST 2008
Greetings All--
I'd like to draw your attention to a new and freely available stable
isotope mixing model software tool, MixSIR, and a recently published
(OnlineEarly) article in Ecology Letters describing the methodological
foundations:
Moore, J.W. and B.X. Semmens. 2008. Incorporating uncertainty and prior
information into stable isotope mixing models. Ecology Letters. OnlineEarly.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01163.x
The MixSIR software (including source code and supporting software
tools) can be downloaded from EcologyBox, a code sharing network for
ecologists:
http://conserver.iugo-cafe.org/view.php?id=50
Like previous mixing models, the MixSIR Bayesian model framework uses
isotope data to estimate contributions of sources to a mixture of
isotopes. For example, how much of prey 1 and prey 2 did a predator
assimilate?
In addition MixSIR:
1. Incorporates uncertainty (i.e., variability in source and mixture
isotope signatures, uncertainty in fractionation).
2. Is flexible to any reasonable combination of sources and isotopes.
For example, you could use 2 isotopes and 2 sources, or 2 isotopes and
5 sources.
3. Outputs probability distributions of source contributions.
4. Allows the incorporation of prior information to guide analyses
(i.e., diet data for predator-prey studies).
5. Has a free, user-friendly stand-alone program (GUI).
With thanks,
Brice Semmens, PhD
brice.semmens at noaa.gov
Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries
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