Microsatellite loci genotypes dataset (N=121 unique individuals) from: Sex-mediated gene flow of grayfoot chacma baboons (Papio ursinus griseipes ) in a highly seasonal habitat of Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Investigating primates’ behavioral variation at the inter-population level
is important for the advancement of biological anthropology and the
understanding of the evolutionary processes leading to species-specific
behavioral patterns. The study of behavioral diversity among populations
also contributes to improve primates’ conservation efforts. Dispersal
patterns tend to be similar among close phylogenetic lineages but may vary
in response to individual-based responses to local demographic and
environmental variation. Here, we investigate dispersal patterns of chacma
baboons (Papio ursinus griseipes) living in Gorongosa National Park and
the Catapu Forest Reserve in central Mozambique. The park consists of a
mosaic landscape, located in a region of high seasonal variability. This
area was the epicenter of a major war, which decimated most apex predators
resulting in limited mammalian predation on baboons and a steep increase
in groups number. Factors such as anthropogenic habitats disturbance,
decreased interactions with predators, and increase in groups density have
the potential for altering individual dispersal behaviour in primates,
which may lead to lack of sex-bias in dispersal. We used a large genetic
dataset of non-invasive DNA samples analyzed for uni- and bi-parentally
inherited markers to characterize the spatial distribution of genetic
variation and investigate the extent and direction of sex-mediated gene
flow. We found high levels of genetic diversity and evidence for
historical and very recent male-biased gene flow. Our study highlights the
strong conservation of male-biased dispersal patterns in chacma baboon
populations facing highly unpredictable environments and suggests that
dispersal behaviors in Papio sp. are resilient to environmental
variability and high seasonality.