Community level response to climate change: The long-term study of the fish and crustacean community of the Bristol Channel

► A long-term study of an estuarine community shows major changes linked to climate. ► The most abundant fish species had no long-term trend in abundance. ► Many lower abundance fish and crustaceans showed exponential population change. ► Synoptic measures, eg species richness & equitability, did not detect underlying change. ► The presence of both stable and responsive species may aid ecosystem stability.