Limited dispersal in mobile hunter-gatherer Baka Pygmies.
Hunter-gatherer Pygmies from Central Africa are described as being extremely mobile. Using neutral genetic markers and population genetics theory, we explored the dispersal behaviour of the Baka Pygmies from Cameroon, one of the largest Pygmy populations in Central Africa. We found a strong correlation between genetic and geographical distances: a pattern of isolation by distance arising from limited parent-offspring dispersal. Our study suggests that mobile hunter-gatherers do not necessarily disperse over wide geographical areas.
Verdu
Paul
P
Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. verdu@umich.edu
Leblois
Raphaël
R
Froment
Alain
A
Théry
Sylvain
S
Bahuchet
Serge
S
Rousset
François
F
Heyer
Evelyne
E
Vitalis
Renaud
R
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D002163:Cameroon; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D011157:Population Dynamics