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.要充分认知哺乳动物社会结构，需量化各类扩散（dispersal）模式并解析两性的扩散过程。本研究针对田鼠亚科啮齿动物（arvicoline rodents）展开了扩散行为调查，该亚科哺乳动物广泛分布于北温带环境，且以多化性生活周期为典型特征。在田鼠亚科啮齿动物中，生活史策略的变异呈现从早熟到延迟成熟的连续谱系，该谱系反映了季节性与生态波动的影响。我们比较了不同物种间及物种内的扩散模式，重点探究外部因素（条件依赖，condition-dependence）与内部因素（表型依赖，phenotype-dependence）的作用效应。本研究数据显示，不同物种间的扩散距离存在显著且尚未得到合理解释的变异，而物种内的扩散距离与扩散比例均存在较强变异。部分方法学层面的因素可解释不同研究间的差异，这警示我们，若未对这些因素加以控制，则不应开展跨研究的比较。总体而言，本研究涉及的物种展现出频繁的短距离扩散事件与极具灵活性的扩散策略，同时还具备此前未被认知的长距离扩散能力。相较于雄性田鼠，雌性田鼠主要表现出恋巢性（philopatry），但我们并未发现交配系统与物种间扩散的性别偏向程度之间存在明确关联。扩散是对多种近因因素与终极因素的响应，这些因素包括种内竞争、近交回避、配偶搜寻以及生境质量等。尤为关键的是，本综述表明，迁移过境与定居阶段所经历的成本与收益是决定条件依赖效应的核心因素。表型依赖型扩散的模式具有物种特质性，仅存在一种广泛存在的关联：即探索/活动综合征与出生扩散（natal dispersal）之间的联系。本文还探讨了扩散对种群动态与遗传结构的影响。