[Coral-List] new (and free!) stable isotope mixing model software

[Brice Semmens]

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