No Difference between the Sexes in Fine-Scale Spatial Genetic Structure of Roe Deer

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.

Evolution of population genetic structure of the British roe deer by natural and anthropogenic processes (Capreolus capreolus)

“…These results are consistent with recent genetic studies, which have reported roe deer to be highly sedentary, exhibiting little or no evidence for sex-biased dispersal (Coulon et al 2006a;Gaillard et al 2008;Bonnot et al 2010). For example, in a study based on the fine-scale genetic structure of a roe deer population in France, anal-yses revealed that the spatial distributions of individuals were not random: adults of both sexes tended to be located spatially close to their relatives (Bonnot et al 2010). Superimposed on a natural tendency for site fidelity in roe deer is an apparent further restriction to movement due to habitat fragmentation.…”

“…; Bonnot et al. ). For example, in a study based on the fine‐scale genetic structure of a roe deer population in France, analyses revealed that the spatial distributions of individuals were not random: adults of both sexes tended to be located spatially close to their relatives (Bonnot et al.…”

“…For example, in a study based on the fine‐scale genetic structure of a roe deer population in France, analyses revealed that the spatial distributions of individuals were not random: adults of both sexes tended to be located spatially close to their relatives (Bonnot et al. ). Superimposed on a natural tendency for site fidelity in roe deer is an apparent further restriction to movement due to habitat fragmentation.…”

Effects of structural connectivity on fine scale population genetic structure of muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus

“…Dispersal in mammals is usually biased toward males (reviewed by Lawson Handley and Perrin 2007); however, we did not detect clear evidence of sex-biased dispersal in this study as suggested by the spatial autocorrelation analysis that showed similar patterns in both sexes. Although the lack of sex-biased dispersal in mammals has rarely been observed, it has been reported in several mammals such as the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (Bonnot et al 2010) and the southern water vole (Arvicola sapidus) (Centeno-Cuadros et al 2011). Social and mating systems influence sex bias in mammal dispersal (Lawson Handley and Perrin 2007).…”

“…Although the lack of sex‐biased dispersal in mammals has rarely been observed, it has been reported in several mammals such as the European roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) (Bonnot et al. ) and the southern water vole ( Arvicola sapidus ) (Centeno‐Cuadros et al. ).…”