Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Juvenile Rockfish Recruitment in Oregon Marine Reserves

Knowing the spatial variation in juvenile recruitment of marine fishes is important for the design of marine reserves that aim to protect habitats that are essential for the lifecycle of marine organisms. To increase our understanding of near-shore habitat use by juvenile rockfishes (Sebastes spp.), a diverse group including commercially important species, we analyzed spatial and temporal patterns of settlement at sites in northern and southern Oregon. Both large-scale (225 km) and fine-scale (400 to 500 m) patterns were compared, and settlement was compared seasonally and inter-annually. Results showed that rockfish recruitment is highly variable and species-specific at both large and fine spatial scales, as well as for seasonal and inter-annual time periods. Because two of the sampling sites were located within marine reserves and two were located in nearby unprotected comparison areas, this study evaluates whether patterns of recruitment varied at sites with different levels of protection. Ongoing work includes otolith analysis and sibling identification to further describe rockfish ecology during their early life. Combined with the patterns of recruitment reported in this work, this ecological information can contribute to the development of dispersal models and management strategies for organisms that occur in the California Current System.