Variability in life history traits and structural diversity of commercially exploited fishes in response to stress can impact their population dynamics and sustainability. Using data from a fishery dependent sampling program from 1978 to 2011, we evaluated temporal variability of size and growth of adult Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus ) in the Gulf of Maine. We then developed and tested the hypotheses on the links of such temporal changes to population density and environmental factors and found decreases in size and growth potential. Generalized additive models found that density dependence was the main driver of such changes over sea surface temperature and salinity. Our results highlight the importance of density dependent processes in regulating growth and population size structure for Atlantic herring in the Gulf of Maine.

中文翻译：

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缅因湾大西洋鲱鱼大小和生长的时间变化

商业开发鱼类在应对压力时的生活史特征和结构多样性的变化会影响它们的种群动态和可持续性。使用来自 1978 年至 2011 年渔业依赖抽样计划的数据，我们评估了缅因湾成年大西洋鲱鱼 (Clupea harengus) 大小和生长的时间变异性。然后，我们开发并测试了关于此类时间变化与人口密度和环境因素之间联系的假设，并发现规模和增长潜力有所下降。广义加性模型发现密度依赖性是海面温度和盐度变化的主要驱动因素。我们的结果强调了密度依赖过程在调节缅因湾大西洋鲱鱼的生长和种群规模结构方面的重要性。