A Bayesian model for assessing organic matter supply in complex marine food webs using amino acid stable isotope analysis.

ABSTRACT: While several software packages have been developed to solve stable isotope mixing models, none are currently equipped to trace the flow of organic matter through the lower trophic levels of planktonic food webs. To address this gap, we have developed a new Bayesian mixing model tailored for use with δ¹⁵N values of individual amino acids. This model simultaneously estimates trophic relationships between consumers and organic matter sources at the base of the food web, determines the relative contributions of these basal organic matter sources to consumers, and accounts for trophic discrimination affecting amino acid δ¹⁵N values during protozoan and metazoan trophic steps. This "Organic Matter Supply Model" is uniquely suited for applications where food web structure i

SUBMITTER: Shea CHH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12640130 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature