Evidence for male-biased dispersal in Lake Malawi cichlids from microsatellites

This study addressed within-population dispersal patterns among the species -rich Lake Malawi cichlids, specifically among the rock-dwelling mbuna grou p. Relatedness values were calculated for 160 individuals belonging to two species from known locations in the field by screening six highly polymorph ic microsatellite loci. The results from both species indicate that spatial ly adjacent females have higher average relatedness values than those separ ated by larger distances, but that this pattern is reversed in males. This therefore provides firm evidence for male-biased dispersal within the Malaw ian cichlid flock.