Early life stages of fish (eggs and larvae) are particularly vulnerable with mortality rates of up to 99% recorded for a large number of species. High mortality rates result from the limited swimming ability of larvae preventing them from escaping sub-optimal environmental conditions, predators or low prey density areas. In this context, estuaries are key nursery areas for larval and juvenile fish. Estuarine habitats offer environmental conditions favourable to the survival and growth of early stages, through abundant good-quality prey and protection from predators. A vast literature on larvae occurring in temperate estuaries exists, but an overall perspective is lacking. The occurrence of fish larvae in temperate estuaries depends on several factors. First, the choice of spawning time and location is primordial, as they have evolved to optimise the entry and the retention of larvae in the estuary as well as the conditions experienced by young stages. Secondly, larval growth and survival depend on key environmental factors (e.g. salinity, water temperature, freshwater inputs, turbidity and dissolved oxygen concentration). Knowledge of the larval dynamics in temperate estuaries is scarce for some topics and biased towards some species or geographical areas. The main goal of the present literature review is to synthesise existing knowledge regarding spawning timing and location and larval ecology for fish species occurring in coasts and estuaries, identifying the main patterns, consensus or conflicting hypotheses and highlighting major gaps. Research needs and future perspectives were outlined.

中文翻译：

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温带河口鱼类幼虫动态：对决定招募的过程、模式和因素的回顾

鱼类（卵和幼虫）的早期生命阶段特别脆弱，许多物种的死亡率高达 99%。高死亡率是由于幼虫的有限游泳能力导致它们无法逃离次优环境条件、捕食者或低猎物密度区域。在这种情况下，河口是幼鱼和幼鱼的主要育苗区。河口栖息地通过丰富的优质猎物和保护免受捕食者的侵害，为早期阶段的生存和生长提供了有利的环境条件。存在大量关于温带河口幼虫的文献，但缺乏整体观点。温带河口鱼幼虫的出现取决于几个因素。首先，产卵时间和地点的选择是原始的，因为它们已经进化到优化河口幼虫的进入和滞留以及幼虫阶段所经历的条件。其次，幼虫的生长和存活取决于关键的环境因素（例如盐度、水温、淡水输入、浊度和溶解氧浓度）。对于某些主题，对温带河口幼体动态的了解很少，并且偏向于某些物种或地理区域。本文献综述的主要目标是综合有关沿海和河口鱼类产卵时间和地点以及幼虫生态学的现有知识，确定主要模式、共识或相互矛盾的假设，并突出主要差距。概述了研究需求和未来前景。