Microsatellite polymorphism and genetic impact of restocking in mediterranean brown trout (Salmo trutta L.)

The genetic impact of restocking Mediterranean brown trout populations with hatchery stocks was investigated in the Orb River drainage (France), using genetic data from three microsatellite loci. We sampled two wild populations, the main river which is restocked each year and one of its tributaries which has not been restocked for 6 years. Each sample was divided into two age groups (juveniles/adults). Introgression of each native population by hatchery stocks was previously estimated using allele frequencies from two diagnostic protein-coding loci and one mtDNA haplotype. The genetic structure and allelic frequency at three microsatellite loci in native populations were compared with two hatchery samples belonging to stocks usually used for restocking this drainage. High levels of polymorphism (23-27 alleles per locus) were detected for two loci, whereas the third was less polymorphic. Polymorphism was significantly higher in the restocked population than in the now undisturbed population. Significant differences between age groups were observed in the main river, but not in its tributary. The introgression estimates using microsatellites were compared to those obtained from proteins and mtDNA. The different possible origins of alleles common to hatcheries and wild populations (homoplasy, ancestral polymorphism or introgression) are discussed.