Sex-biased dispersal and inbreeding avoidance in Hokkaido brown bears

摘要: Natal dispersal likely plays an important role in avoiding inbreeding among large carnivores. We tested the hypothesis that male-biased reduces close by limiting spatial overlap of opposite-sex pairs relatives brown bears (Ursus arctos) Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan. genotyped 837 individuals collected 1998–2017 at 21 microsatellite loci and performed parentage analysis. To calculate natal distance, we considered site where mother was identified as birthplace her offspring, offspring were their dispersed place. As predicted, found distances significantly greater for males (12.4 km ± 1.0) than females (7.7 0.9), those increased from 3 years old, indicating begin to disperse around time sexual maturation begins. Relatedness decreased with distance females, mean relatedness higher between or female–male within km. Closely related rarely (5–6%) resided proximity (< km), compared closely females. Our study revealed potential low Hokkaido because are effective dispersers.