Many fish species rely on estuarine nursery habitats as they transition to adult life stages. Quantifying nursery value, however, requires identification of the life stages (often small and short‐lived) that utilise nursery habitats, and survey methods that provide comparable estimates across habitats. We focused our surveys on post‐settlement snapper ( Chrysophrys auratus ) using video camera deployments across habitats withi...

Snapper ( Chrysophrys auratus ) is an important coastal fish species in New Zealand for a variety of reasons, but the large amount of research conducted on snapper has not been reviewed. Here, we review life history information and potential threats for snapper in New Zealand. We present information on snapper life history, defining stages (eggs and larvae, juvenile and adult), and assess potential threats and knowledge gaps....

Green‐lipped mussels ( Perna canaliculus ) formed extensive reefs on soft sediments in sheltered embayments around northern New Zealand until overfishing and/or increased sediment input caused their virtual disappearance by 1980. To determine the role of mussel reefs as habitat for other animals, we located remnant soft‐sediment reefs in five locations and compared the density, biomass, productivity and composition of mobile m...