Shifting species assemblages within the northeast U.S. large marine ecosystem

The Northeast US Large Marine Ecosystem (NEUS LME) has experienced a variety of pressures due to fishing and climate.  Differences in the reactions of marine species to these changes stemming from differential behavior and life histories have led to a variety of adaptations, which in turn alters the species assemblage of an area.  The NEUS LME has traditionally been assessed using four eco-regions: Mid-Atlantic Bight, Southern New England, Georges Bank, and Gulf of Maine.  Although each eco-region has a distinct species assemblage, we found that those assemblages are shifting over time.  The shift appears to be towards species that prefer warmer-water which creates an assemblage that more resembles the historic assemblage found in the adjacent eco-region to the south.  We found that these shifts are occurring by a combination of fishing pressure and climate. Therefore current reductions in fishing pressures may not be adequate to return the system to a more historic species assemblage.