European Smelt (Osmerus eperlanus (Linnaeus, 1758)) on Kolguyev Island, Barents Sea, and Factors Limiting Its Spread Through the Arctic

摘要

Distribution areas of European and rainbow smelts overlap in the northeastern part of Europe. The interrelations of the two species are poorly researched in this zone. This article describes the identification of a European smelt discovered on the shore of Lake Krivoe, Kolguyev Island, Barents Sea, near the waterline, together with other fishes whose cause of death is unknown. The species identification was performed through partial sequencing of the mitochondrial gene COI coding subunit I of cytochrome oxidase (barcoding). It is established that European smelts could not be transported on Kolguyev Island from other habitats by birds or humans. It is shown on the basis of geological and biogeographical data that the European smelt has likely settled on Kolguyev Island naturally: in the past, the island was connected with the mainland, and its inland water bodies had constituted a part of an extensive freshwater system including inter alia water bodies of the modern Pechora River basin. The fact described in the study makes it possible to conclude that the European smelt distribution in the Arctic is limited by historical factors and likely competitive interactions between European smelts and rainbow smelts.