Double or nothing: Plasticity in reproductive output in the chilipepper rockfish (Sebastes goodei)

An understanding of the reproductive biology of a species is fundamental to successful management of fish stocks. Rockfish (Sebastes spp.) have complex reproduction, being viviparous and generally late to mature, often with extended adolescent periods characterized by abortive maturation events. Furthermore, whereas the majority of Sebastes species in the California Current region produce one brood of larvae annually, several are known to produce more than one, though no stock assessments have yet considered the impact multiple brooding may have on population spawning potential for these species. We documented abortive maturation and examined the prevalence and size-dependent and regional patterns of multiple brooding using macroscopic evaluation and detailed histological analysis of ovaries from a model species, chilipepper (S. goodei), collected off Central and Southern California. We modeled the size-related maternal effect on the probability of multiple brooding, and quantified size-dependent fecundity relationships. Our results indicate that the most robust estimation of reproductive output, as a function of the fecundity-length relationship, is improved for chilipepper when multiple brooding is incorporated, due to the greater probability of additional broods, and thus greater spawning potential, in larger females.