DOI: 10.5061/dryad.2v6wwq01g
title: Introducing FAMM: an open-access database of Fossil Arctic Marine Mammals

description: 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.
description: # Introducing FAMM: an open-access database of Fossil Arctic Marine
 Mammals Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.2v6wwq01g](10.5061/dryad.2v6wwq01g) ##
 Description of the data and file structure Database
 Key: `FAMM_Key_2025.07.05.xlsx` Museum IDs used in
 FAMM: `FAMM_MuseumIDs.xlsx` Uploading data to FAMM: Anyone wishing to
 upload new specimen data relating to fossil Arctic marine mammals
 (including radiocarbon, stable isotopes, and/or ancient DNA) should email
 the corresponding authors. Database
 versions: `FAMM_Database_v1.1_2025.08.17.csv` ### CHANGELOG: * vers. 1.1 -
 First publicly released version of the FAMM database. Updated citations
 for many Russian specimens. Removed radiocarbon dates/metadata for 31
 narwhal specimens as they are unpublished (these data will be re-added
 once published). * vers. 1.0 - First version of the FAMM database.