MEPS 662:205-208 (2021)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13677

ABSTRACT: Shallow littoral waters in estuaries provide important nurseries for a diversity of fish species. The recent review of Whitfield (2020; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 649:219-234) reinforced the long-held paradigm that the value of shallow nurseries is due, in part, to these habitats containing few predators and having low predation pressure. We argue that the provision of refuge does not necessarily mean that a habitat must have few predators and low predation pressure, and present evidence that shallow nurseries contain abundant predator assemblages, may have high predation pressure, and be the habitats where much of the high mortality suffered by juvenile cohorts occurs. Shallow littoral waters are clearly important nurseries, and we highlight the importance of predation in nursery ground functioning.

KEY WORDS: Nursery · Refuge · Piscivore · Estuary