DOI: 10.5683/sp3/sneq3n
title: Rare earth element data for Nunavik (Quebec, Canada): sediments, biofilm, algae, lichen, invertebrates, and various animal tissues of seals, birds and fishes [2017-2021]
title: Les données sur les éléments des terres rares pour Nunavik (Quebec, Canada) : les sédiments, les biofilms, les algues, les lichens, les invertébrés et des divers tissus d’animaux tels des phoques, des oiseaux et des poissons [2017-2022]

description: The database contains rare earth element (REE) concentration data for sediments and biota. Sampling locations are in the George River basin and nearby regions of Nunavik, Quebec, Canada, including the Koroc River basin, and various points along the Ungava Bay coast of Nunavik. Ptarmigans were collected in the winter season (March 2018); all other specimens were collected in the summer season (between June and August of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021). The data comes from a community-based environmental monitoring program, and the animal tissues were collected by hunters and fishers of the Village of Kangiqsualujjuaq. The study aimed to provide information on REE bioaccumulation in species important to northern ecosystems and communities, and investigate REE anomalies and fractionation patterns. A REE mine is planned for the Strange Lake deposit, located within the George River basin (currently in the prefeasability study phase), and therefore the data also provides current REE concentrations prior to mining activity. 

The following sample groups are included in the dataset: algae (Alaria sp.), Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida), Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus), Arctic sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpioides), bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), benthic invertebrates (Tricoptera, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera), biofilm, Canada goose (Branta canadensis), common mussel (Mytilus edulis), reindeer lichen (Cladonia sp.), ringed seal (Pusa hispida), river sediments, rock ptarmigans (Lagopus muta), whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), willow ptarmigans (Lagopus lagopus). For the animal specimen, different tissues were subsampled and includes (depending on species) muscle, bone, liver, kidney, blubber, and the digestive tract. The concentration data was processed as follows: NA where not analyzed or below detection limit; where digestion blanks were detected, they were subtracted from the sample values. Methods provided in detail in available publication. Dataset also includes: collection data (location, date); specimen measurements data (mass, length, sex), and humidity content - when available. Concentration data in dry weight (ug/g, nmol/g).
description: The file contains the following variables and units of measurement: sample year, sample date, sample ID, common name, species name, site latitude (DD), site longitude (DD), animal sex, animal mass (g wet weight), total length (cm), blubber thickness (cm), axial girth (cm), organ or tissue type, humidity content (0-1), concentration data (dry weight): [Y] (ug/g; nmol/g), [La] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Ce] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Pr] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Nd] ug/g; nmol/g), [Sm] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Eu] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Gd] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Yb] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Tb] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Dy] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Ho] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Er] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Tm] (ug/g; nmol/g), [Lu] (ug/g; nmol/g), sum [REE] (ug/g; nmol/g).