Data from: Genetic structure, spatial organization, and dispersal in two populations of bat-eared foxes

We incorporated radio-telemetry data with genetic analysis of bat-eared foxes (Otocyon megalotis) from individuals in 32 different groups to examine relatedness and spatial organization in two populations in South Africa that differed in density, home-range sizes, and group sizes. Kin clustering occurred only for female dyads in the high-density population. Relatedness was negatively correlated with distance only for female dyads in the high-density population, and for male and mixed-sex dyads in the low-density population. Home-range overlap of neighboring female dyads was significantly greater in the high compared to low-density population, whereas overlap within other dyads was similar between populations. Amount of home-range overlap between neighbors was positively correlated with genetic relatedness for all dyad-site combinations, except for female and male dyads in the low-density population. Foxes from all age and sex classes dispersed, although females (mostly adults) dispersed farther than males. Yearlings dispersed later in the high-density population, and overall exhibited a male-biased dispersal pattern. Our results indicated that genetic structure within populations of bat-eared foxes was sex-biased, and was interrelated to density and group sizes, as well as sex-biases in philopatry and dispersal distances. We conclude that a combination of male-biased dispersal rates, adult dispersals, and sex-biased dispersal distances likely helped to facilitate inbreeding avoidance in this evolutionarily unique species of Canidae.

本研究结合无线电遥测数据与南非两个不同种群的32个集群个体的大耳狐（Otocyon megalotis）遗传分析，旨在探究二者的亲缘关系与空间组织模式，这两个种群在种群密度、家域面积以及集群规模上均存在差异。仅在高密度种群的雌性个体对偶中观察到亲缘聚集现象。亲缘关系与空间距离呈负相关的情况仅出现于高密度种群的雌性个体对偶，以及低密度种群的雄性个体对偶和混合性别个体对偶中。相邻雌性个体对偶的家域重叠度在高密度种群中显著高于低密度种群，而其他类型个体对偶的家域重叠度在两个种群间无显著差异。除低密度种群中的雌雄个体对偶外，所有个体对偶-样地组合的邻居间家域重叠度均与遗传亲缘关系呈正相关。所有年龄与性别类群的大耳狐均存在扩散行为，不过雌性（多为成年个体）的扩散距离远大于雄性。亚成体个体在高密度种群中的扩散时间更晚，整体呈现出雄性偏倚的扩散模式。本研究结果表明，大耳狐种群内部的遗传结构存在性别偏倚，且与种群密度、集群规模，以及恋巢行为和扩散距离的性别偏倚密切相关。综上，本研究认为，雄性偏倚的扩散率、成年个体扩散以及扩散距离的性别偏倚三者共同作用，可能助力这种犬科（Canidae）演化独特物种的近交回避行为。