Female-biased dispersal and patrilocal kin groups in a mammal with resource-defence polygyny

Nagy, Martina; Heckel, Gerald; Voigt, Christian; Mayer, Frieder (2007). Female-biased dispersal and patrilocal kin groups in a mammal with resource-defence polygyny. Proceedings of the Royal Society. Series B - biological sciences, 274(1628), pp. 3019-3025. London: Royal Society of London 10.1098/rspb.2007.1008

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In most mammals, dispersal rates are higher in males than in females. Using behavioural and genetic data of individually marked bats, we show that this general pattern is reversed in the greater sac-winged bat (Saccopteryx bilineata). Dispersal is significantly female biased and male philopatry in combination with rare male immigration causes a patrilineal colony structure. Female dispersal helps avoid father-daughter inbreeding, as male tenure exceeds female age at first breeding in this bat species. Furthermore, our data suggest that females may engage in extra-harem copulations to mate with genetically dissimilar males, and thus avoid their male descendants as mating partners. Acquaintance with the natal colony might facilitate territory takeover since male sac-winged bats queue for harem access. Given the virtual absence of male immigration and the possible lower reproductive success of dispersing males, we argue that enhancing the likelihood of settlement of male descendants could be adaptive despite local mate competition. We conclude that resource defence by males is important in promoting male philopatry, and argue that the potential overlap of male tenure and female first conception is the driving force for females to disperse.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	08 Faculty of Science > Department of Biology > Institute of Ecology and Evolution (IEE) > Population Genetics
UniBE Contributor:	Heckel, Gerald
ISSN:	0962-8452
Publisher:	Royal Society of London
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:58
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:17
Publisher DOI:	10.1098/rspb.2007.1008
Web of Science ID:	000251278900014
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/24784 (FactScience: 52947)