Abstract:

This is a dataset of the marginal beta probability density functions (PDFs) representing the percent contribution of prey to predator diet. Predator and prey are provided at the level of functional groups, where functional groups correspond to those used in an Atlantis biogeochemical ecosystem model of the Gulf of Mexico published by Ainsworth et al. 2015 (NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFSC-676). The PDFs have been provided in a CSV file, and also graphically (Fig1.tif, Fig2.tif, Fig3.tif, Fig4.tif). This data set only deals with predator groups that are fish. Note that this data is also provided in a summarized form (mode and 95 % confidence intervals) at this location (DOI:10.7266/N7SX6B5H). This dataset supports the publication: Tarnecki, J.H., Wallace, A., Simons, J. and Ainsworth, C.H. 2016. Progression of a Gulf of Mexico Food Web Supporting Atlantis Ecosystem Model Development. Fisheries Research (DOI: 10.1016/j.fishres.2016.02.023). The data has been used to parameterize the diet matrix of Atlantis. As described in Tarnecki et al., this dataset is based on data previously published in Masi, M.D., Ainsworth, C.H., Chagaris, D., 2014. (Ecol. Model. 284, 60-74) but has been expanded to include new stomach sampling and information collated in the Gulf of Mexico Species Interaction Database (GoMexSI) maintained by Jim Simons at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The main improvement over the original Masi et al. diet matrix is that more species are considered and from a wider geographic range (including waters of the western Gulf of Mexico). Tarnecki et al use this improved diet matrix in Atlantis to show improved model performance; they also compared this revised diet matrix against previously published diet matrices for the Gulf of Mexico.

Suggested Citation:

Ainsworth, Cameron. 2016. Marginal beta probability density functions for predator-prey diet linkages for the Gulf of Mexico fitted using maximum likelihood method, April 2013-May 2015. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7TB14XF

Publications:

Tarnecki, J. H., Wallace, A. A., Simons, J. D., & Ainsworth, C. H. (2016). Progression of a Gulf of Mexico food web supporting Atlantis ecosystem model development. Fisheries Research, 179, 237–250. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2016.02.023

Purpose:

The purpose of this dataset is to provide an improved diet matrix for use in an Atlantis ecosystem model.

Data Parameters and Units:

Data parameters for PDFs.csv dataset: Column A - predator name; Column B - prey name; Column C - diet contribution (%); Column D - probability (unitless); Figures 1 through 4 (Fig1.tif, Fig2.tif, Fig3.tif, Fig4.tif) are graphical representations of the PDFs dataset. The figures are categorized by predator. The x-axis contains the prey contribution to the diet and the y-axis contains the likelihood values.

Individual Files: