Genetic analysis indicates spatial-dependent patterns of sex-biased dispersal in Eurasian lynx in Finland

摘要: Conservation and management of large carnivores requires knowledge female male dispersal. Such information is crucial to evaluate the population’s status thus actions. This challenging obtain, often incomplete contradictory at times. The size target population methods applied can bias results. Also, history biological or environmental influences affect dispersal on different scales within a study area. We have genotyped Eurasian lynx (180 males 102 females, collected 2003–2017) continuously distributed in southern Finland (~23,000 km2) using 21 short tandem repeats (STR) loci compared statistical genetic tests infer local sex-specific patterns across clusters as well geographic regions. tested for substructure with individual-based Bayesian assignment spatial autocorrelation analyses. Differences between sexes differentiation, relatedness, inbreeding, diversity were analysed population-based AMOVA, F-statistics, indices. Our results showed two that spatially structured females but admixed males. Similarly, relatedness was significantly higher than However, we found weaker when data separated three geographical regions divided clusters. Overall, our suggest male-biased philopatry Southern Finland. structuring increased from west east In addition, detection dependent analytical utilized, whether subtle underlying considered not, choice delineation. Conclusively, multiple approaches sex-biased species which delineation difficult.