Is lipid correction necessary in the stable isotope analysis of fish tissues?

Abstract

Our findings indicate that mathematical normalization is sufficient to account for bias in δ(13) C values associated with lipid content in fish tissues when C:N ratios are above 3.5. C:N ratios below 3.5 indicate that tissues have insufficient levels of lipid to bias the δ(13) C values. Generally, these findings support the use of more timely and cost-effective processing and analysis methods in future aquatic food-web studies utilizing SIA. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.