Latitudinal variation in reproductive biology and growth of female Dover sole ( Microstomus pacificus) in the North Pacific, with emphasis on the Gulf of Alaska stock

• Published in: Journal of sea research Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 187 - 197
• Main Authors: Abookire, Alisa A., Macewicz, Beverly J.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-11-2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Age at maturity; Agnatha. Pisces; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Development. Metamorphosis. Moult. Ageing; Dover sole; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gulf of Alaska; Latitudinal variation; Length at maturity; Marine; Microstomus pacificus; Pleuronectidae; Reproduction; Spawning season; Vertebrata; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Pacific Ocean; Gulf of Alaska; North Pacific; INE, USA, Alaska, Alaska Gulf; INE, USA, Alaska, Kodiak I; ISE, Mexico; INE, USA, West Coast; INE, North Pacific; Reproduction; Dover sole; Latitudinal variation; Age at maturity; Spawning season; Pleuronectidae; Length at maturity; Gulf of Alaska; Breeding season; Growth; Environmental factor; Latitude; Marine environment; Life cycle; Vertebrata; Sexual maturity; Pisces; Female; Intraspecific comparison; Age; Stock
• ISSN: 1385-1101; 1873-1414
• DOI: 10.1016/S1385-1101(03)00062-5

Dover sole (
Microstomus pacificus) have a wide distribution throughout the North Pacific, ranging from southern Baja California (26°N) to the Gulf of Alaska (GOA, 59°N). Prior to this study, our understanding of Dover sole reproductive biology was limited to the stock off the US west coast. This study was initiated to determine the length and age at maturity for Dover sole in the GOA. We also compared the length at maturity and growth rate across latitudes to test the hypothesis that individuals near the northern extent of their range (GOA stock) mature at a larger size than individuals in the southern stock off California and Oregon. Female Dover sole (n=273) ranging in length from 198–663 mm were collected opportunistically around Kodiak Island, Alaska, (55–59°N) from February 2000 to October 2001, with sampling concentrated in the months February-April, June–July, and October–November. All ovaries were examined to determine the maturity stage using standard histological criteria. The spawning season of Dover sole in the GOA spanned at least 4 months, from February to May. Dover sole in the GOA matured at a larger size than those off California and Oregon, with an estimated length at 50% maturity (ML
50) of 439 mm. At the same fish length that nearly 100% of Dover sole from California and Oregon waters are mature, Dover sole in the GOA are just beginning to mature. The estimated age at 50% maturity (MA
50) for female Dover sole in the GOA was 6.7 years and was similar to the MA
50 for cohorts at more southern latitudes. We attribute the latitudinal variation in ML
50, combined with the similar MA
50 across latitudes, to spatial differences in growth rates.