Introducing FAMM: an open-access database of Fossil Arctic Marine Mammals

Motivation: The Arctic is currently experiencing the strongest effects of climate change on Earth. These effects, including sea ice loss, are already modifying ecologies of the 11 species of marine mammals found in the Arctic year-round. Data from contemporary individuals are often applied to understand how these species may respond to future climate change. The inclusion of fossil data can provide greater insight into species histories. Conservation approaches are increasingly enhanced by including ancient biomolecular data such as radiocarbon age, stable isotopes, and ancient DNA. However, analytical quality is challenged by data degradation over time, lack of cross-linkage between different ancient biomolecular data, and widely varying metadata standards across fields. Here, we compile and present an open-access database of Fossil Arctic Marine Mammals (FAMM) containing nearly 3400 specimens with harmonized primary and molecular biodiversity data, providing a crucial resource to Arctic biodiversity and environmental research.

Types of variables collected: FAMM contains records and metadata of Arctic marine mammal macrofossils, including: taxonomy; geographic provenance; radiocarbon age; stable isotopes; and ancient DNA. FAMM aligns with Darwin Core standards for reproducibility.

Spatial location and grain: Arctic and sub-Arctic.

Time period and grain: Last Interglacial (130,000 years BP) to ~1500 CE.

Major taxa and level of measurement: All 11 extant endemic Arctic marine mammal species: bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus); narwhal (Monodon monoceros); beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas); polar bear (Ursus maritimus); walrus (Odobenus rosmarus); ringed seal (Pusa hispida); bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus); hooded seal (Cystophora cristata); harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus); spotted seal (Phoca largha); and ribbon seal (Histriophoca fasciata). We also include the historically extinct Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas).

Software format: Data are provided as three csv files uploaded to Dryad: 1.) A key describing the columns in the FAMM database; and 2.) the FAMM database itself; 3.) a key explaining the museum acronyms used in FAMM.