Abstract
BackgroundTiger populations are dwindling rapidly making it increasingly difficult to study their dispersal and mating behaviour in the wild, more so tiger being a secretive and solitary carnivore.MethodsWe used non-invasively obtained genetic data to establish the presence of 28 tigers, 22 females and 6 males, within the core area of Pench tiger reserve, Madhya Pradesh. This data was evaluated along with spatial autocorrelation and relatedness analyses to understand patterns of dispersal and philopatry in tigers within this well-managed and healthy tiger habitat in India.ResultsWe established male-biased dispersal and female philopatry in tigers and reiterated this finding with multiple analyses. Females show positive correlation up to 7 kms (which corresponds to an area of approximately 160 km2) however this correlation is significantly positive only upto 4 kms, or 50 km2 (r = 0.129, p<0.0125). Males do not exhibit any significant correlation in any of the distance classes within the forest (upto 300 km2). We also show evidence of female dispersal upto 26 kms in this landscape.ConclusionsAnimal movements are important for fitness, reproductive success, genetic diversity and gene exchange among populations. In light of the current endangered status of tigers in the world, this study will help us understand tiger behavior and movement. Our findings also have important implications for better management of habitats and interconnecting corridors to save this charismatic species.
Highlights
Dispersal is an important event in the life history of an animal as it plays a profound role in determining the dynamics of a population, inbreeding, genetic structure, movement and continuity among subpopulations of a species
In polygynous species, dispersal by males has been explained by the local mate competition hypothesis as a means to reduce competition for mates [5], or to reduce competition for resources among females, since females benefit from familiarity with resources in their territory and can afford better parental care [6]
Advances in molecular genetics make it possible to study dispersal without extensive field data based on population level estimators [10,11,12]
Summary
Dispersal is an important event in the life history of an animal as it plays a profound role in determining the dynamics of a population, inbreeding, genetic structure, movement and continuity among subpopulations of a species. Measuring sex-biased dispersal and kinship is difficult in wideranging, secretive mammalian species. Advances in molecular genetics make it possible to study dispersal without extensive field data based on population level estimators [10,11,12]. Genetic techniques have become effective means to determine familial relationships among individuals in a population because they employ larger sample sizes that allow for broader inferences about dispersal behaviour [11]. Measures of Fst and assignment tests are regularly used to study dispersal, immigration, emigration and structure between different populations of a species. Tiger populations are dwindling rapidly making it increasingly difficult to study their dispersal and mating behaviour in the wild, more so tiger being a secretive and solitary carnivore
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