Data from: Beyond dispersal versus philopatry? Alternative behavioural tactics of juvenile roe deer in a heterogeneous landscape

Although inter-individual heterogeneity in many aspects of dispersal
behaviour is widely reported, this key life-history trait is predominantly
modelled as a dichotomous state of philopatry vs. dispersal. The
increasing body of evidence for dispersal syndromes (i.e. a suite of
correlated morphological, behavioural, and life-history traits associated
with dispersal) implies substantial but, to date, undocumented individual
heterogeneity in behavioural tactics during dispersal. Using a large
sample (N = 154) of GPS monitored juvenile roe deer (Capreolus capreolus),
we evaluated among-individual behavioural heterogeneity in dispersal
tactics, and the individual and environmental drivers of these alternative
tactics. We developed a sequential three-stage decision tree based on
space use stability, exploration events and the directionality of
movement. We identified six discrete alternative behavioural tactics
during the dispersal period which were characterised by different timing,
amplitude and duration in movement: slightly less than half of the deer
were sedentary, either “strictly philopatric” or “explorers”, which
subsequently settled on their natal range; around 40% dispersed (“classic
dispersal”), of which, one in six subsequently aborted, moving back to
their natal range (“aborted dispersal”); finally, around 15% expressed
either a “progressive dispersal” tactic, gradually moving away from their
natal area to settle elsewhere, or a “multi-range” tactic. The propensity
to express an alternative dispersal tactic was strongly influenced by an
individual’s local environment. In particular, when landscape
heterogeneity, resource quality, and human-related disturbance in the
natal range were low, individuals were (i) more likely to adopt the
alternative tactics of either progressive dispersal or multi-ranging, but
(ii) also more likely to abort their dispersal attempt. Our work indicates
that natal dispersal is likely not a single uniform behaviour, but that
individuals may adopt a variety of alternative movement tactics which are
likely governed by different selection pressures, with potentially
important impacts for population dynamics and functioning.