Subterranean Life-Style Does Not Limit Long Distance Dispersal in African Mole-Rats
Dispersal from the natal site to breeding sites is a crucial phase in the life history of animals and can have profound effects on the reproductive ecology and the structure of animal societies. However, few studies have assessed dispersal dynamics in subterranean mammals and it is unknown whether d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.879014/full |
| _version_ | 1818470344227291136 |
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| author | Kyle T. Finn Jack Thorley Jack Thorley Hanna M. Bensch Markus Zöttl |
| author_facet | Kyle T. Finn Jack Thorley Jack Thorley Hanna M. Bensch Markus Zöttl |
| author_sort | Kyle T. Finn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dispersal from the natal site to breeding sites is a crucial phase in the life history of animals and can have profound effects on the reproductive ecology and the structure of animal societies. However, few studies have assessed dispersal dynamics in subterranean mammals and it is unknown whether dispersal distances are constrained by living underground. Here we show, in social, subterranean Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis), that a subterranean lifestyle does not preclude long distance dispersal and that both sexes are capable of successfully dispersing long distances (>4 km). Body condition did not predict dispersal distance, but dispersers from larger groups traveled farther than individuals from smaller groups. Subsequently we show in a phylogenetically controlled comparative analysis of dispersal distances in subterranean and surface-dwelling rodents that living underground does not constrain dispersal distances and that dispersal capacity is mainly a consequence of body size in both lifestyles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:36:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e556469e75345359b60d4e8b432113e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:36:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e556469e75345359b60d4e8b432113e2022-12-22T02:28:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-06-011010.3389/fevo.2022.879014879014Subterranean Life-Style Does Not Limit Long Distance Dispersal in African Mole-RatsKyle T. Finn0Jack Thorley1Jack Thorley2Hanna M. Bensch3Markus Zöttl4Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United KingdomDepartment of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United KingdomDepartment of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, SwedenDepartment of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, SwedenDispersal from the natal site to breeding sites is a crucial phase in the life history of animals and can have profound effects on the reproductive ecology and the structure of animal societies. However, few studies have assessed dispersal dynamics in subterranean mammals and it is unknown whether dispersal distances are constrained by living underground. Here we show, in social, subterranean Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis), that a subterranean lifestyle does not preclude long distance dispersal and that both sexes are capable of successfully dispersing long distances (>4 km). Body condition did not predict dispersal distance, but dispersers from larger groups traveled farther than individuals from smaller groups. Subsequently we show in a phylogenetically controlled comparative analysis of dispersal distances in subterranean and surface-dwelling rodents that living underground does not constrain dispersal distances and that dispersal capacity is mainly a consequence of body size in both lifestyles.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.879014/fullnatal dispersalecological constraintssubterraneanfossorialrodentsDamaraland mole-rat |
| spellingShingle | Kyle T. Finn Jack Thorley Jack Thorley Hanna M. Bensch Markus Zöttl Subterranean Life-Style Does Not Limit Long Distance Dispersal in African Mole-Rats Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution natal dispersal ecological constraints subterranean fossorial rodents Damaraland mole-rat |
| title | Subterranean Life-Style Does Not Limit Long Distance Dispersal in African Mole-Rats |
| title_full | Subterranean Life-Style Does Not Limit Long Distance Dispersal in African Mole-Rats |
| title_fullStr | Subterranean Life-Style Does Not Limit Long Distance Dispersal in African Mole-Rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Subterranean Life-Style Does Not Limit Long Distance Dispersal in African Mole-Rats |
| title_short | Subterranean Life-Style Does Not Limit Long Distance Dispersal in African Mole-Rats |
| title_sort | subterranean life style does not limit long distance dispersal in african mole rats |
| topic | natal dispersal ecological constraints subterranean fossorial rodents Damaraland mole-rat |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.879014/full |
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