S2. Main events of common sole life (Solea solea)
The common sole, Solea solea, is an important commercial flatfish species usually found in
shallow waters (between 10 and 60 m; but also down to 200 m) of the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
Its distribution ranges from the Mediterranean Sea and the north-western coast of Africa to
the northern coast of Scotland and the southern coast of Norway [1]. The common sole is a
batch-spawner. Spawning occurs in coastal waters from winter to spring depending on the
geographical location. Fertilized eggs are pelagic and generally hatch after 1 to 2 weeks. The
larval stage is also pelagic and commonly lasts 3 to 7 weeks [2]. Because of their pelagic life
style, eggs and larvae can disperse relatively widely and may experience strong environmental
variability as they drift inshore, notably in terms of temperature and food abundance. The
larval stage is also characterized by a metamorphosis implying critical ontogenic
morphological, physiological, and behavioral changes [3]. At the end of metamorphosis,
juvenile individuals settle, i.e., they change from a pelagic to a benthic habitat and colonize
coastal shallow waters in estuaries and bays [2]. In this new habitat, sole are likely to
experience strong temperature and salinity fluctuations but also hypoxia episodes. Juveniles
spend roughly 2 years on these coastal nursery grounds where they can feed on abundant
epibenthic and endobenthic preys [2]. The pelagic larval and the juvenile stage on nursery
grounds have been shown to be determinant for common sole recruitment [1, 4]. Sexual
maturity is reached between 2 and 6 years old [5].
References
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3
4
5
Rijnsdorp, A.D., Van Beek, F.A., Flatman, S., Millner, R.M., Riley, J.D., Giret, M., De
Clerck, R. 1992 Recruitment of sole stocks, Solea solea (L.), in the Northeast Atlantic.
Neth J Sea Res 29(1-3), 173-192. (doi:10.1016/0077-7579(92)90018-A)
Amara, R., Lagardère, F., Desaunay, Y., Marchand, J. 2000 Metamorphosis and estuarine
colonisation in the common sole, Solea solea (L.): implications for recruitment
regulation. Oceanol Acta 23(4), 469-484. (doi:10.1016/S0399-1784(00)00134-1)
Geffen, A.J., van der Veer, H.W., Nash, R.D.M. 2007 The cost of metamorphosis in
flatfishes. J Sea Res 58(1), 35-45. (doi:10.1016/j.seares.2007.02.004)
van der Veer, H.W., Berghahn, R., Miller, J.M., Rijnsdorp, A.D. 2000 Recruitment in
flatfish, with special emphasis on North Atlantic species: Progress made by the Flatfish
Symposia. Ices J Mar Sci 57(2), 202-215. (doi:10.1006/jmsc.1999.0523)
Mollet, F.M., Kraak, S.B.M., Rijnsdorp, A.D. 2007 Fisheries-induced evolutionary
changes in maturation reaction norms in North Sea sole Solea solea. Mar Ecol-Prog Ser
351, 189-199. (doi:10.3354/meps07138)