Data from: The prevention and detection of human error in ecological stable isotope analysis

1. Stable isotope analysis (SIA) is widely used in ecology, but samples are usually analysed in specialist facilities. Like any complex process, SIA is susceptible to human error. Despite the best efforts of the SIA laboratory, errors may occasionally remain in results released to clients. 2. We used our experiences as ecologists and laboratory analysts to identify human error scenarios to which SIA performed anywhere might be susceptible. These scenarios ran from sample selection and submission by the ecologist, to the final results report from the SIA laboratory. Several scenarios involved errors hard to find by visual examination, by either ecologist or analyst. 3. The ecologist can prevent pre-submission errors by formalising their sample submission process, and can best perform a final results quality check by submitting their own quality control material with a matrix similar to that of the samples. Prevention of laboratory errors is best accomplished by a comprehensive quality management system and a continual-improvement, no-blame laboratory culture. 4. We recommend that the ecologist views the entire sample selection, submission, and laboratory analysis as an integrated whole, establishing their own quality management processes to run alongside those of the SIA facility. This recommendation applies to any ecological methodology where samples are sent to a specialist facility for analysis.1. 稳定同位素分析（Stable Isotope Analysis，SIA）在生态学领域应用广泛，但样品通常需送至专业检测机构开展分析。与所有复杂实验流程一致，SIA易受人为误差干扰。即便SIA实验室已尽最大努力，向客户发布的分析结果中仍可能偶尔残留误差。 2. 我们凭借作为生态学家与实验室分析人员的从业经验，梳理出全球任意SIA实验室均可能遭遇的人为误差场景。这些场景覆盖了从生态学家进行样品选择与提交，到SIA实验室出具最终结果报告的全流程。其中部分误差场景难以通过生态学家或分析人员的目视检查识别。 3. 生态学家可通过规范样品提交流程规避提交前误差，且通过提交与样品基体相似的自制质控材料，可最有效地完成最终结果的质量核查。实验室误差的防控则需依托全面质量管理体系，以及秉持持续改进、无追责的实验室文化。 4. 我们建议生态学家将样品选择、提交及实验室分析视为一个完整的集成系统，建立自身的质量管理流程，与SIA实验室的质量管理体系协同运行。该建议同样适用于所有需将样品送至专业检测机构开展分析的生态学研究方法。