Spawner-Recruit Ecology: Physiology, Behavior, and Spawning Site Selection

The impact of exogenous factors on larval survival, in conjunction with the large fecundities of most exploited marine species, have led some to conclude that there is often little relationship between reproductive rate and reproductive success at the population level.  However, there is a need to distinguish between yield, which is usually well-correlated with year-class strength, and resilience of a stock, which should be more closely linked to factors associated with reproductive success.  Reproductive strategies are complex, adaptable systems that have evolved to allow for population persistence within a given ecosystem, especially in terms of food availability and mortality regimes. We develop the concept of reproductive timing strategies, integrating reproductive traits over multiple temporal scales and addressing emerging understanding at the population and individual level.  We then address the underlying physiological process of oogenesis and the ultimate and proximate cues driving oogenesis within a spatial and energetic context.  Lastly we present results from recent or on-going studies of estuarine, nearshore and offshore pelagic spawners, highlighting similarities and differences in their reproductive strategies including gender systems, reproductive timing, and spawning habitat.