Data from: Highly asymmetric fine-scale genetic structure between sexes of African striped mice and indication for condition dependent alternative male dispersal tactics

Sex-biased dispersal is observed in many taxa, but few studies have
compared sex-biased dispersal among and within populations. We addressed
the magnitude and habitat dependency of sex-biased dispersal in social
African striped mice by separating group-related from population-related
genetic variance to understand the contribution of each sex to deme
structure. As dispersal over unoccupied habitat is likely to be more
costly than dispersal within a population, we predicted that individuals
leaving the natal population have a lower body condition, being inferior
to heavier territorial individuals. Fine-scale genetic structure was
detected in both sexes. Female relatedness decreased continuously from R =
0.21 at 25 m to zero at 500 m. Maximum male relatedness R = 0.05 was
constant at distances between 25 and 75 m, becoming zero at 100 m. Genetic
variance (FST) among seven locations was significantly higher in females
than in males, while inbreeding estimates (FIS) were significantly higher
in males than in females. Assignment tests estimated significantly more
migrants among males, while Bayesian clustering estimated only a single
genetic unit cluster for males among the seven locations. The mean body
mass of migrant males (44 g) was significantly lower than for males that
remained resident and thus dispersed within their sub-population (48 g).
Combined, the results showed habitat-independent male-biased dispersal and
high female philopatry, and suggested that body condition was more
important than kinship in male dispersal decisions. We suggest that
locally inferior males are important for gene flow between
sub-populations. Thus, males might follow alternative dispersal tactics.