Abstract
The reproductive condition of female Oligocottus snyderi Greeley during 18+ months at Dillon Beach, California was examined. Seasonal differences in reproductive condition were identified by diameter measurements of ovarian follicles in pre‐vitellogenic, cortical alveoli and vitellogenic stages of development which showed that female O. snyderi appeared capable of reproduction during 6 to 8 months of the year. Reproduction occurred from late autumn to early spring and it is likely that females reproduce more than once a year. Follicular development within the population was asynchronous; development within individual females was group synchronous. The percentage of females with vitellogenic follicles in each collection was negatively correlated with photoperiod and productivity and positively correlated with wave action. Conversely, the percentage of newly recruited individuals in each sample was positively correlated with photoperiod and productivity. It appears that reproduction and recruitment in O. snyderi are significantly influenced by annual productivity cycles; daylength changes may provide an anticipatory cue for the productivity cycle.
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