10.5061/DRYAD.0M7B5
Cunningham, Charles
University of York
Parra, Jorge E.
University of Bath
Coals, Lucy
University of Bath
Beltrán, Marcela
University of Bath
Zefania, Sama
Institut Supérieur de Technologie de Menabe, Port Morondava, Madagascar
Székely, Tamás
University of Debrecen
University of Bath
Data from: Social interactions predict genetic diversification: an
experimental manipulation in shorebirds
Dryad
dataset
2018
spatial behaviour
Charadrius pecuarius
Charadrius marginatus
2018-01-16T21:10:32Z
2018-01-16T21:10:32Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ary012
55418 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Mating strategy and social behaviour influence gene flow and thus affect
levels of genetic differentiation and potentially speciation. Previous
genetic analyses of closely related plovers Charadrius spp. found
strikingly different population genetic structure in Madagascar:
Kittlitz’s plovers are spatially homogenous whereas white-fronted plovers
have well segregated and geographically distinct populations. Here we test
the hypotheses that Kittlitz’s plovers are spatially interconnected and
have extensive social interactions that facilitate gene flow, whereas
white-fronted plovers are spatially discrete and have limited social
interactions. By experimentally removing mates from breeding pairs and
observing the movements of mate-searching plovers in both species, we
compare the spatial behaviour of Kittlitz’s and white-fronted plovers
within a breeding season. The behaviour of experimental birds was largely
consistent with expectations: Kittlitz’s plovers travelled further, sought
new mates in larger areas, and interacted with more individuals than
white-fronted plovers, however there was no difference in breeding
dispersal. These results suggest that mating strategies, through spatial
behaviour and social interactions, are predictors of gene flow and thus
genetic differentiation and speciation. Our study highlights the
importance of using social behaviour to understand gene flow, although
future work is needed to investigate the relative importance of social
structure, intra- and between-season dispersal in influencing the genetic
structures of populations.
data_individual_summaryContains data on both Kittlitz’s (kip) and
white-fronted (wfp) plover experimental
individuals.data_plover_relocationsContains the relocation coordinates of
experimental individuals used in the
analysis.data_wfp_behaviour_matrixContains a behavioural interaction
matrix of experimental white-fronted plovers.
Madagascar