Data from: Fine-scale population structure, inbreeding risk and avoidance in a wild insect population

The ecological and evolutionary importance of fine scale genetic structure
within populations is increasingly appreciated. However, available data
are largely restricted to wild vertebrates and eusocial insects. In
addition there is the expectation that most insects tend to have such
large and high density populations and are so mobile that they are
unlikely to face inbreeding risks through fine scale population
structuring. This has made the growing body of evidence for inbreeding
avoidance in insects and its implication in mating systems evolution
somewhat enigmatic. We present a four year study of a natural population
of field crickets. Using detailed video monitoring combined with
genotyping we track the movement of all adults within the population and
investigate genetic structure at a fine scale. We find some evidence for
relatives being found in closer proximity, both across generations and
within a single breeding season. Whilst incestuous matings are not
avoided, population inbreeding is low, suggesting that mating is close to
random and the limited fine scale structure is does not create significant
inbreeding risk. Hence there is little evidence for selective pressures
associated with the evolution of inbreeding avoidance mechanisms in a
closely related species.