Theory 90/Coastal & Estuary/Coastal fish
Nurseries Are Habitat Against Risk
The claim
Coastal fish recruitment is gated by the ratio of nursery habitat to predation risk, so restoration without predator management can fail.
01Mechanism
Juveniles need structure to hide in and food to grow; the ratio determines survival through the vulnerable period.
02Prediction
Recruitment should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Recruitment tracking habitat area would remove predation.