Reduced microsatellite heterozygosity does not affect natal dispersal in three contrasting roe deer populations.
Although theoretical studies have predicted a link between individual multilocus heterozygosity and dispersal, few empirical studies have investigated the effect of individual heterozygosity on dispersal propensity or distance. We investigated this link using measures of heterozygosity at 12 putatively neutral microsatellite markers and natal dispersal behaviour in three contrasting populations of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), a species displaying pre-saturation condition-dependent natal dispersal. We found no effect of individual heterozygosity on either dispersal propensity or dispersal distance. Average heterozygosity was similar across the three studied populations, but dispersal propensity and distance differed markedly among them. In Aurignac, dispersal propensity and distance were positively related to individual body mass, whereas there was no detectable effect of body mass on dispersal behaviour in Chizé and Trois Fontaines. We suggest that we should expect both dispersal propensity and distance to be greater when heterozygosity is lower only in those species where dispersal behaviour is driven by density-dependent competition for resources.
Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive (LBBE), CNRS UMR5558, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne Cedex, France. cecile_vanpe@yahoo.fr.
Cécile
C
Vanpé
Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive (LBBE), CNRS UMR5558, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.|Laboratoire Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage (CEFS), INRA UR35, B.P. 52627, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
Lucie
L
Debeffe
Laboratoire Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage (CEFS), INRA UR35, B.P. 52627, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
A J Mark
AJM
Hewison
Laboratoire Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage (CEFS), INRA UR35, B.P. 52627, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
Erwan
E
Quéméré
Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive (LBBE), CNRS UMR5558, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
Jean-François
JF
Lemaître
Laboratoire Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage (CEFS), INRA UR35, B.P. 52627, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|INRA, UMR CBGP, (INRA/IRD/Cirad/Montpellier SupAgro), Campus International de Baillarguet CS 30016, 34988, Montferrier-Sur-Lez Cedex, France.
Maxime
M
Galan
Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive (LBBE), CNRS UMR5558, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.|INRA, UMR CBGP, (INRA/IRD/Cirad/Montpellier SupAgro), Campus International de Baillarguet CS 30016, 34988, Montferrier-Sur-Lez Cedex, France.
Britany
B
Amblard
ONCFS, CNERA Cervidés-Sanglier, 1 Place Exelmans, 55000, Bar-Le-Duc, France.
François
F
Klein
Laboratoire Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage (CEFS), INRA UR35, B.P. 52627, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
Bruno
B
Cargnelutti
ONCFS, Délégation Inter-Régionale Poitou-Charentes Limousin, 255 route de Bonnes, 86000, Poitiers, France.
Gilles
G
Capron
Laboratoire Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage (CEFS), INRA UR35, B.P. 52627, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
Joël
J
Merlet
ONCFS, CNERA Cervidés-Sanglier, 1 Place Exelmans, 55000, Bar-Le-Duc, France.
Claude
C
Warnant
Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive (LBBE), CNRS UMR5558, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
Jean-Michel
JM
Gaillard
D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D011157:Population Dynamics