Tundra Nunavik: Functional traits of bird and mammal species of Labrador and northern Quebec

While most ecological studies focus on the impact of climate change on some populations or species, broader, ecosystem-based information is needed to better predict the future state of the Arctic. We therefore conducted a large-scale study aimed at characterizing through modelling the vulnerability of tundra ecosystems to climate change. As part of this study, we gathered ecological and biological information on 183 mammal and bird species inhabiting Labrador and the province of Québec north of the 50°N. Distributions of mammals were taken from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), while distributions of birds were taken from BirdLife International and NatureServe. For each species, we compiled information on names (Latin, English, French, Inuktitut), diet, body mass, behaviour, lifespan, habitat and nest characteristics. This information originates from the scientific literature, large web databases, and expert advice. Information sources are listed in the dataset and a description of each species characteristic is available in the Supplementary documentation.