EPA: EPA Stable Isotope Analysis
Title
| Data Analysis Methods and Models for Stable Isotopes |
---|---|
Author
| Phillips, Donald L. |
Abstract/Summary Statement
| Stable isotope analysis is being increasingly utilized in ecological studies to trace the movement of chemicals through the environment. One common type of application is to use stable isotopes to quantify the proportion of different sources contributing to a mixture. Examples include determining the contributions of various pollution sources to air or water bodies, food sources to animal diets, soil horizons to plant water uptake, inputs to soil organic carbon, etc. Mathematical mixing models are used to quantify these source proportions. Recent research at EPA¿s Western Ecology Division has produced several new developments that extend the capabilities of these mixing models. Descriptions of these methods, as well as software for free downloading, are available. |
Table of Contents
| Features include Excel programs to calculate: 1. Confidence interval calculation for source partitioning using stable isotopes 2. Concentration-dependent stable isotope mixing model 3. Stable isotope mixing model for an excess number of sources |
Citation
| Phillips, D.L., and J.W. Gregg, 2001, Data Analysis Methods and Models for Stable Isotopes: IsoError, IsoConc, IsoSource. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Western Ecology Division. |
Method Source
| EPA |
Source Organization Country
| USA |
Publication Year
| 2001 |
Special Notes
| IsoSource v1.3.1 available as of August 8, 2006. Related articles are available at <a href="http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/models/stableIsotopes/publications/publications.htm"> http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/models/stableIsotopes/publications/publications.htm </a>and include: Phillips, D.L., and J.W. Gregg. 2001. Uncertainty in source partitioning using stable isotopes. Oecologia 127:171-179; Phillips, D.L. 2001. Mixing models in analyses of diet using multiple stable isotopes: a critique. Oecologia 127:166-170: Phillips, D. L. and P. M. Eldridge 2006 Estimating the timing of diet shifts using stable isotopes. Oecologia 147(2):195-203. |
Item Type
| Downloadable Software |
Publication Source Type
|
Government Agency (Federal, USA) |
Purpose
|
Data analysis |
Design or Data Analysis Objectives
|
Communities & populations |
Complexity
| Medium |
Media Emphasized
|
Biological Groundwater Soils/Sediment Surface Water |
Media Subcategory
| |
Special Topics
|