Research overview: genetic signatures of sex-biased dispersal in felids

In many cats, one sex disperses farther than the other, with males typically moving while females remain near their natal range, a pattern that leaves distinct genetic footprints. This overview surveys how comparing the structure of maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA, paternally inherited Y markers, and biparental autosomes reveals sex-biased dispersal in species such as lions, pumas, and leopards. It discusses the implications for gene flow, inbreeding avoidance, and population connectivity, how sex-biased movement can maintain genetic mixing even in seemingly structured populations, and why understanding these patterns is important for predicting how fragmentation will affect the genetic health of cat populations.