Colonization and nursery habitat use patterns of larval and juvenile flatfish species in a small temperate estuary

► Seasonal and spatial distribution assessment of larval and juvenile flatfish. ► The importance of Mondego estuary differs according to the flatfish species. ► S. senegalensis mainly present as larvae and P. flesus and S. solea as juveniles. ► P. flesus juveniles preferred north arm while S. solea used the entire estuary; ► Mondego estuary plays an important role during the first year of fish life-cycle.