Remnant natural Sydney rock oyster reef. Credit: Dr. Juan Esquivel-Muelbert New research has revealed how to design artificial habitats that give oyster reefs the best chance to recover. The findings come from a detailed analysis of the natural shapes and structures of oyster reefs. Published in the journal Nature , the study shows that oyster reefs are not random clusters of shells. Instead, their shapes and arrangements play a critical role in helping young oysters settle, survive, and avoid