Can we identify wild-born salmon from parentage assignment data? A case study in the Garonne-Dordogne rivers salmon restoration programme in France

Parentage assignment with genomic markers provides an opportunity to monitor salmon restocking programs. Most of the time, it is used study fate hatchery-born fish in those programs, as well genetic impacts restocking. In such analyses, only that are assigned their parents considered. Garonne-Dordogne river basin France, native have disappeared, and supportive breeding being try reinstate a self-sustained population. It therefore primary importance assess numbers wild-born returning salmon, which could appear wrongly or not assigned, depending on power marker set size mating plan. We genotypes at nine microsatellites 5800 hatchery broodstock were from 2008 2014, 884 upstream migrating collected 2016, our ability identify salmon. simulated assessed how they identified by parentage software Accurassign. showed 98.7% within recorded plan be considered fish, while 93.3% other categories (assigned out plan, several parent pairs, assigned) wild-born. Using Bayesian approach, we 31.3% 457 sampled 2014 2016 This approach thus efficient restoration program. remains dependent quality recording was rather good (<5% mistakes) this To limit potential dependence, increase number genotyped (17 instead 9) now implemented.