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. 2012 Feb 1;7(2):e30242. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030242

Table 3. Regression statistics of the exponential decay functions in δ13C of different tissues from female mallards after the switch from C4 to C3-based diet.

Tissue a λ δ(∞) R2 n
Plasma 6.32±0.37 0.162±0.033 −24.31±0.25 0.94 13
Blood cells 7.60±1.37 0.022±0.007 −26.1±1.41 0.95 26
Albumen 5.31±0.29 0.218±0.041 −22.98±0.21 0.97 13
Yolk – mean 6.02±0.38 0.116±0.020 −23.27±0.36 0.98 13
inner yolk 7.58±2.62 0.052±0.033 −25.12±2.73 0.90 13
intermediate yolk 6.23±0.59 0.128±0.034 −23.22±0.53 0.94 13
outer yolk 5.73±0.27 0.222±0.034 −22.80±0.18 0.98 13

Exponential decay is given with δ(t) = δ(∞)+a•e−λ• t wherein δ(t) is the isotope signature of the specific tissue at time t (days) since diet switch, δ(∞) is the isotopic composition of the tissues in equilibrium with the new C3-diet, a is the difference between δ(0) and δ(∞), and λ is the turn-over rate. R2 and n are goodness of fit and the number of samples; coefficients are given as means ± SE.