(Tables S1,2) Stable isotopes in muscle tissue of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from various regions of the Arctic ...

• Main Authors: McKinney, Melissa A, Letcher, Robert J, Aars, Jon, Born, Erik W, Branigan, Marsha, Dietz, Rune, Evans, Thomas J, Gabrielsen, Geir W, Muir, Derek C G, Peacock, Elizabeth, Sonne, Christian
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2011
• Subjects: Event label; Latitude of event; Longitude of event; Area/locality; δ15N; δ15N, standard deviation; δ13C; δ13C, standard deviation; Ursus maritimus; Male, mature; Female, mature; Number; Time coverage; Sampling date; Sample comment; Age, relative, number of years; Comment; Biological sample; Isotope ratio mass spectrometry; International Polar Year 2007-2008 IPY; East Greenland; Greenland; Hudson Bay; International Polar Year; IPY; Svalbard; Alaska
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.816752; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.816752

The relative contribution of regional contamination versus dietary differences to geographic variation in polar bear (Ursus maritimus) contaminant levels is unknown. Dietary variation between Alaska, Canada, East Greenland, and Svalbard subpopulations was assessed by muscle nitrogen and carbon stable isotope (d15N, d13C) and adipose fatty acid (FA) signatures relative to their main prey (ringed seals). Western and southern Hudson Bay signatures were characterized by depleted d15N and d13C, lower proportions of C20 and C22 monounsaturated FAs and higher proportions of C18 and longer chain polyunsaturated FAs. East Greenland and Svalbard signatures were reversed relative to Hudson Bay. Alaskan and Canadian Arctic signatures were intermediate. Between-subpopulation dietary differences predominated over interannual, seasonal, sex, or age variation. Among various brominated and chlorinated contaminants, diet signatures significantly explained variation in adipose levels of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) ... : Data extracted in the frame of a joint ICSTI/PANGAEA IPY effort, see http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.150150 ...