A mtDNA analysis of spatiotemporal distribution of two sympatric larval populations of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) in the St. Lawrence River estuary, Quebec, Canada

Ecological isolation through resource partitioning is invoked as a major factor for explaining the persistence of genetically distinct yet closely related sympatric populations. Two genetically distinct sympatric populations of anadromous rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) exist in the middle estuary of the St. Lawrence River. The persistence of these coexisting populations in sympatry is in conflict with current theoretical concepts predicting population richness. In the present study, we performed mtDNA PCR-RFLP analysis of 922 larvae from 33 sampling stations to test the hypothesis that the larvae belonging to the two sympatric smelt populations of the St. Lawrence middle estuary are spatially segregated and that such segregation may promote the persistence of the populations. Results clearly revealed spatial homogeneity in the relative distribution of larvae from the two populations. Consequently, they did not support our working hypothesis that larvae belonging to the two sympatric smelt populations are spatially segregated. Two alternative explanations may account for the lack of spatial partitioning observed here. Competition may not be important enough to promote resource partitioning at the larval stage. Alternatively, resource partitioning occurs, but not spatially. This study also demonstrated that the effect of historical events may have been as important as contemporary ecological settings in determining generic population structure in smelt.