Habitat Use and Connectivity

Many complex factors determine the role of estuarine habitats and landscapes in fish growth and survival that ultimately contribute individuals to adult populations. In this chapter, we recognise the diversity of habitats, both those frequently (e.g. submerged aquatic vegetation, mangroves) and infrequently (e.g. shellfish beds, woody debris) evaluated and how these vary in use among life history stages and among estuaries from the tropics to the poles. Some factors that clearly influence habitat diversity and use vary with temperature, salinity, geomorphology, hydrology and niche availability coupled with species-specific and intraspecific differences in habitat fidelity and landscape context. This diversity of factors hampers our ability to fully determine habitat quality and connectivity requirements but provides opportunities to enhance our understanding with multiple approaches from basic natural history to application of developing techniques.