Data from: Dietary habits of polar bears in Foxe Basin, Canada: possible evidence of a trophic regime shift mediated by a new top predator ...

• Main Authors: Galicia, Melissa P., Thiemann, Gregory W., Dyck, Markus G., Ferguson, Steven H., Higdon, Jeff W.
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Dryad 2017
• Subjects: Foxe Basin; polar bear; Marine mammals; Canada; Hudson; Hudson Strait; Nunavut; Harp Seal; Odobenus rosmarus; Pagophilus groenlandicus; Pusa hispida; ringed seal; Sea ice; Ursus maritimus; walrus*
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.k6618; https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.k6618

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) subpopulations in several areas with seasonal sea ice regimes have shown declines in body condition, reproductive rates, or abundance as a result of declining sea ice habitat. In the Foxe Basin region of Nunavut, Canada, the size of the polar bear subpopulation has remained largely stable over the past 20 years, despite concurrent declines in sea ice habitat. We used fatty acid analysis to examine polar bear feeding habits in Foxe Basin and thus potentially identify ecological factors contributing to population stability. Adipose tissue samples were collected from 103 polar bears harvested during 2010–2012. Polar bear diet composition varied spatially within the region with ringed seal (Pusa hispida) comprising the primary prey in northern and southern Foxe Basin, whereas polar bears in Hudson Strait consumed equal proportions of ringed seal and harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus). Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) consumption was highest in northern Foxe Basin, a trend driven by the ... : Galicia et al polar bear and prey fatty acid dataGalicia et al supplemental fatty acid data.xlsx ...