title: Philopatry and dispersal patterns in tiger (Panthera tigris).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tiger populations are dwindling rapidly making it increasingly difficult to study their dispersal and mating behaviour in the wild, more so tiger being a secretive and solitary carnivore.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used non-invasively obtained genetic data to establish the presence of 28 tigers, 22 females and 6 males, within the core area of Pench tiger reserve, Madhya Pradesh. This data was evaluated along with spatial autocorrelation and relatedness analyses to understand patterns of dispersal and philopatry in tigers within this well-managed and healthy tiger habitat in India.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We established male-biased dispersal and female philopatry in tigers and reiterated this finding with multiple analyses. Females show positive correlation up to 7 kms (which corresponds to an area of approximately 160 km(2)) however this correlation is significantly positive only upto 4 kms, or 50 km(2) (r  = 0.129, p<0.0125). Males do not exhibit any significant correlation in any of the distance classes within the forest (upto 300 km(2)). We also show evidence of female dispersal upto 26 kms in this landscape.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Animal movements are important for fitness, reproductive success, genetic diversity and gene exchange among populations. In light of the current endangered status of tigers in the world, this study will help us understand tiger behavior and movement. Our findings also have important implications for better management of habitats and interconnecting corridors to save this charismatic species.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Digpal Singh
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gour
authors.forename: Jyotsna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bhagavatula
authors.forename: Maradani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhavanishankar
authors.forename: Patlolla Anuradha
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Jaya A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Mriganka Shekhar
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Shaik Mohammed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Segu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harika
authors.forename: Ravinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gulia
authors.forename: Sisinthy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shivaji
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D056084:Genetic Fitness / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics*; D046010:Tigers / Q000502:physiology*; D014197:Trees