These are data collected from polar bears from the southern Beaufort Seas during the spring and fall between 2004 and 2011. Data include individual ID, sex and age class, presence of dependent young, season of sample collection, total mercury concentration derived from a hair sample, estimate of annual diet proportion, and indices of body condition.

This dataset is two tables with data collected and derived from polar bears sampled in Alaska’s southern Beaufort Sea during 2008-2019. Collected data includes demographic and morphometric information and derived data includes mercury concentrations in hair samples. Ancillary data includes gut microbiome abundances, diversity indices, calculated body condition, and the proportions of prey species detected in individual bear diets. These data were used to determine whether gut microbiota community richness and diversity were associated with diet-acquired mercury.

This dataset is two tables with data collected and derived from polar bears sampled in Alaska’s southern Beaufort Sea during 2008-2019. Collected data includes demographic and morphometric information and derived data includes mercury concentrations in hair samples. Ancillary data includes gut microbiome abundances, diversity indices, calculated body condition, and the proportions of prey species detected in individual bear diets. These data were used to determine whether gut microbiota community richness and diversity were associated with diet-acquired mercury.

This dataset includes carbon and nitrogen isotope concentrations measured in polar bear hair and marine mammal prey muscle and blubber samples collected 1978-2019 in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Marine mammal prey samples were collected opportunistically either from polar bear seal kill sites or from marine mammals harvested by Native hunters, including ringed seal, bearded seal, gray whale, Pacific walrus, bowhead whale, beluga whale, spotted seal and ribbon seal. All prey samples were collected within the Alaska Beaufort or Chukchi Sea with the exception of gray whale samples that were collected in Chukotka. More specific information on the location in which prey samples were collected are provided within the data. Hair was collected from polar bears captured on the sea ice or land in the spring or fall from 1987-1989 and 2008-2017 in the Russia and/or Alaska portions of the Chukchi Sea and 1983-1989 and 2004-2016 in the Alaska Beaufort Sea. Whole hairs were analyzed for carbon and nitrogen isotopes. Prey samples were analyzed separately as blubber lipids, lipid-extracted blubber protein, bulk muscle, and lipid-extracted muscle. Not all tissues were available for all individual prey samples.

This dataset includes carbon and nitrogen isotope concentrations measured in polar bear hair and marine mammal prey muscle and blubber samples collected 1978-2019 in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Marine mammal prey samples were collected opportunistically either from polar bear seal kill sites or from marine mammals harvested by Native hunters, including ringed seal, bearded seal, gray whale, Pacific walrus, bowhead whale, beluga whale, spotted seal and ribbon seal. All prey samples were collected within the Alaska Beaufort or Chukchi Sea with the exception of gray whale samples that were collected in Chukotka. More specific information on the location in which prey samples were collected are provided within the data. Hair was collected from polar bears captured on the sea ice or land in the spring or fall from 1987-1989 and 2008-2017 in the Russia and/or Alaska portions of the Chukchi Sea and 1983-1989 and 2004-2016 in the Alaska Beaufort Sea. Whole hairs were analyzed for carbon and nitrogen isotopes. Prey samples were analyzed separately as blubber lipids, lipid-extracted blubber protein, bulk muscle, and lipid-extracted muscle. Not all tissues were available for all individual prey samples.

These were data collected from polar bears from the southern Beaufort Sea during the spring between 2004 and 2016. Data include individual bear identification, age and sex class, capture date, capture year, open water season lengths, melt season length, and diet composition (expressed as a percentage of prey species). These data were used to determine whether polar bear diets have recently changed or remained stable over time.

This dataset is one table with observations of polar bears located during aerial surveys along the coast and barrier islands of the southern Beaufort Seas during fall, 2010-2013. Survey flights were conducted using A-Star B2 and Bell 206 helicopters at an average altitude of 300 feet AGL and an average speed of 50 miles per hour. Survey crews searched for polar bears using coastal and inland transects and over-flights of all coastal barrier islands.

This data set is one table with observations of polar bears located during aerial surveys along the coast and barrier islands of the southern Beaufort Seas during fall, 2010-2013. Survey flights were conducted using A-Star B2 and Bell 206 helicopters at an average altitude of 300 feet AGL and an average speed of 50 miles per hour. Survey crews searched for polar bears using coastal and inland transects and over-flights of all coastal barrier islands.

These data consist of the fatty acid composition (percent of mass) of adipose tissue samples from polar bears in Alaska's southern Beaufort Sea. Fat biopsy samples were collected from polar bears that were either captured or biopsy darted along the north coast of Alaska or on offshore ice during March, April, or May from 2004 to 2016. The data also include an identification code unique to an individual bear, sex, age class, and the date of sample collection.

These data consist of the fatty acid composition (percent of mass) of adipose tissue samples from polar bears in Alaska's southern Beaufort Sea. Fat biopsy samples were collected from polar bears that were either captured or biopsy darted along the north coast of Alaska or on offshore ice during March, April, or May from 2004 to 2016. The data also include an identification code unique to an individual bear, sex, age class, and the date of sample collection.