Data from: Patterns and processes of dispersal behaviour in arvicoline rodents

A good understanding of mammalian societies requires measuring patterns and comprehending processes of dispersal in each sex. We investigated dispersal behaviour in arvicoline rodents, a sub-family of mammals widespread in northern temperate environments and characterised by a multivoltine life cycle. In arvicoline rodents, variation in life history strategies occurs along a continuum from precocial to delayed maturation that reflects seasonal and ecological fluctuations. We compared dispersal across and within species focusing on the effects of external (condition-dependence) and internal factors (phenotype-dependence). Our data revealed substantial, unexplained variation between species for dispersal distances and a strong variation within species for both dispersal distance and fraction. Some methodological aspects explained variation across studies, which cautions against comparisons that do not control for them. Overall, the species under consideration display frequent short-distance dispersal events and extremely flexible dispersal strategies, but they also have hitherto unexpected capacity to disperse long distances. Female arvicolines are predominantly philopatric relative to males, but we found no clear association between the mating system and the degree of sex-bias in dispersal across species. Dispersal is a response to both various proximate and ultimate factors, including competition, inbreeding avoidance, mate searching, and habitat quality. In particular, our review suggests that costs and benefits experienced during transience and settlement are prime determinants of condition-dependence. Patterns of phenotype-dependent dispersal are idiosyncratic, except for a widespread association between an exploration/activity syndrome and natal dispersal. Consequences for population dynamics and genetic structures are discussed.要充分理解哺乳动物社会的运作逻辑，需量化不同性别的扩散模式并解析其背后的过程。本研究针对田鼠亚科（Arvicolinae）啮齿类的扩散行为展开调查，该类哺乳动物广泛分布于北温带环境，且以多世代生活周期为典型特征。田鼠亚科啮齿类的生活史策略呈现连续渐变的变异谱，从早熟型到延迟成熟型，该变异恰反映了季节性与生态环境波动的影响。本研究对不同物种及同一物种内部的扩散情况进行比较，重点关注外部因素（条件依赖性，condition-dependence）与内部因素（表型依赖性，phenotype-dependence）的作用。研究数据显示，不同物种间的扩散距离存在显著且尚未得到合理解释的差异；而同一物种内部的扩散距离与扩散率均呈现较强变异。部分研究方法层面的因素可解释不同研究间的结果差异，这警示我们，若未对这些因素加以控制，则不应随意进行跨研究比较。总体而言，本次研究涉及的田鼠亚科物种常发生短距离扩散事件，且扩散策略极具灵活性，但同时也具备此前未被认知的长距离扩散能力。相较于雄性，雌性田鼠的留居倾向更为显著，但本研究未发现不同物种的交配系统与扩散性偏倚程度之间存在明确关联。扩散是对多种近因与终极因素的响应，包括种内竞争、近交回避、配偶搜寻以及栖息地质量等。具体而言，本综述表明，个体在扩散迁移与定居过程中所经历的成本与收益，是决定条件依赖性的核心因素。表型依赖性扩散模式具有物种特异性，但探索-活动综合征与出生扩散之间存在广泛的关联。本研究还探讨了扩散对种群动态与遗传结构的影响。