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You Are What You Eat – Science & Engineering Festival Results

Individual results are found in the table. Look up your sample number in the table and read across for the carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope results. All the data collected are shown together on the plot below (scroll down!).  The results show that most of the visitors have an omnivorous diet, with a few to the left of the plot showing a more vegetarian (lower meat/dairy) diet.

Please email lindareynard@boisestate.edu with any questions, or if you’d like help finding your data point on the plot. Thank you for participitating and I hope you found it interesting!

Sample numberCarbon isotopes
(δ13C)		Nitrogen isotopes
(δ15N)
100-18.59.5
101-19.98.5
102-18.89.0
103-21.08.7
104-18.18.4
105-19.08.6
106-18.88.5
107-17.99.7
108-19.59.4
109-18.69.5
110-18.98.8
111-19.48.8
112-19.58.7
113-18.19.1
114-17.68.9
115-19.29.4
116-19.59.2
117-19.98.5
118-18.59.1
119-18.49.7
120-18.18.0
121-18.08.7
122-18.88.9
123-18.29.1
124-19.39.0
125-17.910.1
126-17.98.8
127-17.49.7
128-19.48.5
129-17.59.4
130-19.09.0
131-17.98.9
132-17.79.4
133-18.58.5
134-18.28.2
135-19.29.4
136-19.98.0
137-19.28.4
138-18.88.6
139-19.28.2
140-18.49.0
141-19.28.1
142-20.17.9
143-19.38.1
144-19.98.1
145-20.67.3
146-19.28.9
147-21.37.6
148-20.58.0
149-18.09.4
150-18.49.2
151-20.27.9
152-17.59.3
153-17.99.1
154-19.78.3
155-19.19.2
156-17.09.8
157-18.98.2
158-19.08.8
159-20.08.7
160-17.99.3
161-17.49.2
162-19.48.7
163-18.79.0

Visitor Data

Grey dots show 2025 BSU visitor data

A scatter plot showing dietary data from 2025. The x-axis represents δ¹³C values, and the y-axis represents δ¹⁵N values. Vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores are marked with distinct symbols and colors.

Isotope Values of Food

Food and comparison fingernail data:

A graph titled "Isotope Values of Food," showing different food categories and their isotope ratios. It includes labels for omnivores, vegetarians, fingernails, and various food sources like marine fish and corn products.

Isotope Values of Fingernails

Istotope values of fingernails: range of USA omnivores.

Note these are 2024 results below:

A scatter plot showing δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values to distinguish dietary habits. Omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans are marked with red circles, green triangles, and orange squares, respectively. Higher δ¹⁵N values indicate more meat or seafood consumption, while higher δ¹³C values suggest greater intake of corn-fed products.