Data from: Fine-scale spatial genetic dynamics over the life-cycle of the tropical tree Prunus africana

Studying fine-scale spatial genetic patterns across life stages is a
powerful approach to identify ecological processes acting within tree
populations. We investigated spatial genetic dynamics across five life
stages in the insect-pollinated and vertebrate-dispersed tropical tree
Prunus africana in Kakamega Forest, Kenya. Using six highly polymorphic
microsatellite loci, we assessed genetic diversity and spatial genetic
structure (SGS) from seed rain and seedlings, and different sapling stages
to adult trees. We found significant SGS in all stages, potentially caused
by limited seed dispersal and high recruitment rates in areas with high
light availability. SGS decreased from seed and early seedling stages to
older juvenile stages. Interestingly, SGS was stronger in adults than in
late juveniles. The initial decrease in SGS was probably driven by both
random and non-random thinning of offspring clusters during recruitment.
Intergenerational variation in SGS could have been driven by variation in
gene flow processes, overlapping generations in the adult stage or local
selection. Our study shows that complex sequential processes during
recruitment contribute to SGS of tree populations.