Abstract
BackgroundData on spatial genetic patterns may provide information about the ecological and behavioural mechanisms underlying population structure. Indeed, social organization and dispersal patterns of species may be reflected by the pattern of genetic structure within a population.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe investigated the fine-scale spatial genetic structure of a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population in Trois-Fontaines (France) using 12 microsatellite loci. The roe deer is weakly polygynous and highly sedentary, and can form matrilineal clans. We show that relatedness among individuals was negatively correlated with geographic distance, indicating that spatially proximate individuals are also genetically close. More unusually for a large mammalian herbivore, the link between relatedness and distance did not differ between the sexes, which is consistent with the lack of sex-biased dispersal and the weakly polygynous mating system of roe deer.Conclusions/SignificanceOur results contrast with previous reports on highly polygynous species with male-biased dispersal, such as red deer, where local genetic structure was detected in females only. This divergence between species highlights the importance of socio-spatial organization in determining local genetic structure of vertebrate populations.
Highlights
The fine-scale genetic structure of populations, i.e. the nonrandom spatial distribution of genetic variation at a local scale, is strongly influenced by species-specific social structure, dispersal patterns and mating system (e.g. [1] on killer whale, [2] on brushtailed rock wallaby)
Most studies of fine-scale genetic structure have focused on polygynous and social species displaying male-biased natal dispersal, and much less is known about the genetic structure of solitary species
Roe deer offers a unique opportunity to test whether social structure and sex-biased dispersal drive fine-scale genetic structure among large mammalian herbivores
Summary
The fine-scale genetic structure of populations, i.e. the nonrandom spatial distribution of genetic variation at a local scale, is strongly influenced by species-specific social structure, dispersal patterns and mating system (e.g. [1] on killer whale, [2] on brushtailed rock wallaby). Females are often organized into matrilines and the close spatial associations of relatives may favor cooperation and kin selection, and so enhance individual fitness [6] This social system is thought to have evolved as the result of mate-defense mating tactics [7]. Most studies of fine-scale genetic structure have focused on polygynous and social species displaying male-biased natal dispersal (e.g. on red deer [8,9,10], on wild boar [11], on brushtailed rock-wallaby [2], on common vole [12]), and much less is known about the genetic structure of solitary species (but see [6] on brown bears, [13] on a rodent: talar tuco-tuco, [14] on Canadian lynx). Social organization and dispersal patterns of species may be reflected by the pattern of genetic structure within a population
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