Differences in female individual reproductive potential among three stocks of winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Potential annual fecundity (PAF) and skipped spawning of winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, were compared among the three stocks in United States waters and between two spawning seasons. Winter flounder have group-synchronous oocyte development and determinate fecundity. These characteristics enable estimation of PAF just prior to spawning by enumeration of the late-vitellogenic cohort of oocytes, in this case employing the autodiametric method. There was a low level of down-regulation, which was limited to fish in the earlier stages of vitellogenesis. Estimates of PAF increased substantially with female size and age, ranging from < 0.5 million to > 5 million eggs per female. Fecundity at size decreased with increasing latitude. On average, fish from the Southern New England (SNE) stock had the highest individual fecundities at length and Gulf of Maine (GOM) the lowest, but differences varied among the years. Fecundity at length of fish from Georges Bank (GB) was intermediate to these two stocks and displayed less variability at size; however, GB fish grow faster so they had the highest relative fecundity at age. Skipped spawning also exhibited geographic differences; it was infrequent (< 2%) overall, but observed in the two coastal stocks (GOM more than SNE) in both years and was not observed in the GB stock. Fecundity at size between the two years was more similar for SNE fish, but all three stocks were synchronized with higher PAF in 2011 than 2010. Comparisons to previously published estimates suggest fecundity is highly variable in this species. Overall, different rates of reproductive productivity exist among individuals of the three stocks.

► Fecundity increased isometrically with size, limited down-regulation was observed. ► Southern New England fish had higher fecundity at size than Gulf of Maine fish. ► Georges Bank fish were intermediate in fecundity at size but had higher fecundity at age. ► Skipped spawning was uncommon in the coastal stocks and not observed on Georges Bank. ► Fecundity was greater in 2011 than 2010, strength of variation differed among stocks.