Lefebvre et al.: Reproductive ecology and size-dependent fecundity in Eopsetta jordani 
301 
Total length (mm) 
B 
o 
> I I I I I I I I I i THTn i n -rTr i I I M i I I I i i I I i I i I I II I I I i i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I 
Somatic weight (g) 
O CA observed A NW observed-CA predicted. NW predicted - Combined predicted 
Figure 5 
Potential annual fecundity (PAF) as a function of maternal (A) length and (B) somatic weight and relative PAF as a 
function of maternal (C) length and (D) somatic weight in petrale sole {Eopsetta jordani) sampled during 2014—2017 
off California (CA) and the Pacific Northwest (NW, Oregon and Washington). Circles and triangles indicate observed 
values, and dashed, dotted, and solid lines indicate values predicted by models for each region and with regions 
combined. 
stock assessments of petrale sole conducted along the West 
Coast of the United States may have overestimated rela¬ 
tive spawning output because they did not fully account for 
the increased relative egg production of larger individuals 
that would have been present in an unfished population. 
Moreover, the observation that female petrale sole produce 
not one, but several, batches of eggs throughout a given 
spawning season may have implications for how catch and 
effort data are evaluated from the winter fisheries (which 
take place on spawning grounds). However, given the 
uncertainties regarding potential differences in the rela¬ 
tive fecundity relationship over space, additional research 
to better quantify reproductive output of this commercially 
important species would be ideal. Given the importance of 
this stock in commercial fisheries in both the United States 
and Canada, future studies into the reproductive ecology of 
petrale sole should include and pool data from a broader 
latitudinal range, including waters in California, the Pacific 
Northwest, and Canada, to better understand patterns of 
variability in fecundity and life history. 
Acknowledgments 
We are grateful to R. and T. Seitz (South Bay Wild, 
Astoria, OR), M. Gleason and S. Rienecke (The Nature 
Conservancy), and M. Head (NWFSC) for their cooperation 
in collecting commercial and survey samples; P. MacDonald 
(NWFSC) for providing ages; E. Dick (SWFSC) for statis¬ 
tical assistance; and the processing crew and numerous 
interns for help developing the data. This manuscript 
was improved with comments from S. Beyer (SWFSC), 
M. Haltuch (NWFSC), and 3 anonymous reviewers. Fund¬ 
ing was provided by the NMFS Cooperative Research 
Program. 
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