An ecological model of the habitat mosaic in estuarine nursery areas: Part I-Interaction of dispersal theory and habitat variability in describing juvenile fish distributions

► Variation in movement behavior was overshadowed by temporal habitat variation. ► Interaction of behavior and habitat variation evident in model simulations. ► Balanced temporal-spatial habitat variation yielded more directed dispersal. ► Incorporation of temporal habitat variation in model yielded nearly optimal dispersal. ► Spatial and temporal variation may drive predictions of response to habitat change.