DOI: 10.5061/dryad.tmpg4f53h
title: Data from: Mechanisms of enhancing genetic fitness in non-kinship-based groups: Insights from black-necked cranes

description: Understanding a species' mating strategies is essential for
 unraveling the intricacies of their group structure and formation, as well
 as for comprehending the delicate balance they trade-offs to optimize
 their overall fitness. Black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis), a
 monogamous wetland species primarily found in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
 and the largest alpine crane, is a captivating embodiment of fidelity and
 love, yet our study challenges this narrative. In this study, we
 successfully extracted DNA samples from black-necked cranes and
 reconstructed pedigrees of breeding groups at Flower Marsh. We discovered
 that these non-kinship-based groups exhibited high nest-site fidelity,
 with males showing higher nest-site fidelity than females. Despite their
 monogamous nature, none of the breeding pairs maintained strict monogamy
 throughout our four-year observation period, with a high rate of
 extra-pair fertilization detected. Indiscriminate offspring dispersal
 enabled black-necked crane groups to avoid inbreeding, while the high
 frequency of extra-pair fertilization increased genetic diversity. Our
 findings provide valuable insights into the mating strategies of
 black-necked cranes and the mechanisms that sustain low-sociality groups
 and offer important implications for the conservation of this unique
 species.
description: Observation and collection during four years.
description: # Mechanisms of Enhancing Genetic Fitness in Non-Kinship-Based Groups:
 Insights from Black-necked Cranes ## Description of the dataset This
 dataset contains geographic information on nest locations of the
 black-necked crane (*Grus nigricollis*) collected during the study period.
 The data were used to examine nest-site fidelity, breeding structure, and
 reproductive dynamics in non-kinship-based breeding groups. The dataset
 accompanies the associated article published in *Ecological Indicators*
 and is intended for reuse in spatial and ecological analyses at landscape
 and regional scales. --- ## File description ### File: `Nest_GPS.zip` This
 archive contains generalized GPS coordinate data for black-necked crane
 nest sites recorded between 2017 and 2020. The archive includes four KML
 files: * `2017_generalized.kml` * `2018_generalized.kml` *
 `2019_generalized.kml` * `2020_generalized.kml` Each KML file contains
 point features representing nest locations for the corresponding year.
 Attribute information includes nest identifiers and associated breeding
 group information. The files can be opened and visualized using standard
 GIS software such as QGIS, ArcGIS, or Google Earth. --- ## Data
 sensitivity and coordinate generalization To reduce potential conservation
 risks for the near-threatened species *Grus nigricollis*, geographic
 coordinates in this dataset have been spatially generalized prior to
 publication. Latitude and longitude values were rounded to two decimal
 places (approximately 1 km spatial resolution). This level of
 generalization preserves broad-scale spatial patterns relevant for
 ecological and landscape analyses while preventing precise localization of
 sensitive nest sites. --- ## Data reuse notes The dataset is suitable for
 analyses focusing on landscape-level patterns, habitat use, and spatial
 distribution of breeding sites. It is not intended for fine-scale
 site-specific localization or management actions requiring exact nest
 positions. --- ## Related publication Li, Y., Jin, Y., He, X., Dou, L.,
 He, H., Zhang, Y., Li, Z., & Ran, J. (2024).\ *Mechanisms of enhancing
 genetic fitness in non-kinship-based groups: Insights from black-necked
 cranes*.\ Ecological Indicators.\
 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112701](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112701)