Concentrations of mercury and stable isotope values of carbon and nitrogen in polar bear hair from the Norwegian and Russian Arctic (v.2)

The data show hair concentrations of total mercury (THg) from adult (>4 years) female polar bears from the Norwegian Arctic (Svalbard archipelago; n=41) captured between 2008/2011 and 2016, and in male and female polar bears from the Russian Arctic (Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, and Chukchi Sea; n=58) of unknown age. All of the Norwegian and 42 of the Russian samples were additionally analysed for stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) to approximate feeding habits. The dataset was used to explore spatial variation within the Norwegian and Russian Arctic in relation to feeding habits. In version 2 of the data file (update 2022-02-07) information on capture date and bear status (immobilized/ remains/shed hair) has been appended.