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Species-level taxonomy is the scientific naming of natural populations of organisms for the purpose of communication about evolutionary relationships, geographic distributions, ecology, and other c...

An unusually long period of warm-water temperatures occurred off southern California (USA) in 2014–2018, and the highest sea-surface temperature ever recorded in a 103-year span of continuous data collection occurred in August 2018. Poleward distributional shifts in the geographic range of hundreds of marine organisms worldwide have been documented during or just after this and similar anomalously warm periods. We report on the unusual occurrences of 36 fish species (most initially reported by citizen scientists) recorded from the Southern California Current System (SCCS) during this recent period. In combination with previous literature, a remarkable 14 species are reported in the SCCS for the first time. The number of species and families represented is comparable to the number recorded during the 1997–1998 El Nino, widely regarded as the most impactful warming event for this area in the past century.

Embiotocidae, a unique family within the Perciformes that has evolved a complex viviparous natural history, has lacked full resolution and strong support in several interspecific relationships until recently. Here we propose three taxonomic revisions within embiotocid surfperches based on recent molecular phylogenetic analyses that robustly resolve all interspecific relationship in the Eastern Pacific species: Hypsurus caryi (Agassiz, 1853) resurrected to its original name Embiotoca caryi Agassiz, 1853, Rhacochilus vacca (Girard, 1855) shifted into the genus Phanerodon Girard, 1854, and Hyperprosopon anale Agassiz, 1861 separated into the available genus Hypocritichthys Gill, 1862. The proposed changes would leave three previously paraphyletic groups monophyletic (Embiotoca, Hyperprosopon, and Phanerodon) and would maintain the current number of genera at 13.

The genus Brotula (Family: Ophidiidae) is characterized as having a circumtropical and subtropical marine distribution (Hubbs 1944; Nielsen et al. 1999). Two species are known from the Eastern Pacific: Fore-spotted Brotula (Brotula ordwayi Hildebrand & Barton, 1949) and Pacific Bearded Brotula (Brotula clarkae Hubbs, 1944). Of the two species, Brotula clarkae is more common and is known from higher, more subtropical latitudes in both hemispheres. Recently, Brotula flaviviridis was described by Greenfield (2005) from the Fiji Islands; however, this species appears to be a Fiji archipelago endemic or perhaps a species of limited distribution in the Central Pacific. Love et al. (2005) noted that the Pacific Bearded Brotula is found in the Eastern Tropical Pacific from Cabo San Lazaro, Baja California Sur to Paita, Peru, including Gulf of California, at depths of 1–645 m. On 24 July 2001, fishes from the southern California Spot Prawn (Pandalus platyceros) trap fishery were collected by the California Department of Fish and Game for ongoing studies concerning related by-catch. A sample, consisting of various rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) and a large Spotted Cusk-eel (Chilara taylori), was collected from the fishing vessel Stephanie D. The traps for this sample were set about eight nautical miles (14.8 km) west of Point Loma, San Diego County, lat 33u09.39 N, long 117u26.79 W, in ca. 122 fathoms (223 m). The entire sample was sent to the senior author (RNL) for confirmation and documentation. Upon examination of these fishes, it was apparent that the ‘‘Spotted Cusk-eel’’ was not this species but was in fact a member of the genus Brotula and was identified specifically as B. clarkae. This specimen (Fig. 1) is deposited in the Department of Ichthyology at California Academy of Sciences (CAS uncatalogued) and tissue resides in the Marine Vertebrate Collection, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO 02-95). On 6 March 2003 a second specimen of Brotula was collected by the third author (WP), of the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, off the Palos Verdes Shelf, Los Angeles County, lat 33u41.89 N, long 118u20.09 W, at Station T5, from 65 m. During recovery and routine maintenance of a thermister array by the research vessel Ocean Sentinel, the specimen was found in the steel base of the array. The fish did not appear to be any of the expected locally caught species and was later identified as Brotula clarkae. This specimen is catalogued in the Marine Vertebrate Collection as SIO 07-67 (Fig. 2). Morphometric and meristic information on these two Californian specimens are included in Table 1. Both fish are typical Brotula clarkae and are easily differentiated from B. ordwayi by pattern of coloration, counts, and morphometry (Hildebrand and Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 108(3), 2009, pp. 163–167 E Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2009

Errors in Nelson et al. (2004) that have come to our attention are listed below. Some of these were caught in page proof but not changed in the final publication. Corrections to scientific names follow those given in Eschmeyer (1998, Online). Some minor typographical errors that should not cause confusion are not listed in the table below. For example, we place a comma between the name of the author and the date, as given in examples in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, 4 Edition (e.g., Article 22A.2, a recommendation concerning method of citation); however, there is the occasional omission of the comma in the list (e.g., ‘‘Narcine bancroftii (Griffith & Smith 1834)’’ and ‘‘Psenes sio Haedrich 1970’’). Other minor errors are the omission of a space between items in ‘‘Squalus mitsukurii Jordan & Snyder,1903’’, extra space between items in ‘‘Cichlasoma deppii (Heckel, 1840)’’, and omission of comma between items, e.g., ‘‘Atherinidae–En-Old World silversides, Sptinicalos Fr-atherines’’. In the Index, page 283, carpio is listed in error as in Cyprinella, rather than Cyprinus. Apart from the errors corrected here, changes found subsequent to finalizing the 2004 list will be published later. This will include many range extensions of species found in our area, taxonomic changes (e.g., modifications in generic and family limits as well as species status), and new species and higher taxa described since the publication of the sixth edition, along with other changes. Other comments or purported errors came forth from users that resulted from not reading the notes in Appendix 1. Except for the entry ‘‘Elassoma okefenokee’’, we do not give comments here from publications, either those we missed or that appeared subsequent to the sixth edition, that either strengthen decisions made for the 2004 list or that present elaboration of comments. These may be presented in future articles or in the next edition, planned for 2010. Users should note that active taxonomic work often results in differences of opinion on the generic placement of many species (many such differences, when timely communicated for the 2004 list, were mentioned in Appendix 1). Generic allocation of several species are not necessarily changed in the main list to follow the latest taxonomic suggestions when there is reason to believe that these actions are likely to soon change (this has often been done with the advice of specialists of the particular group). The scientific name is intended as a recommendation or guide for the non-taxonomist until more comprehensive revisionary works are completed. We plan to issue regular updates on new species to our area and have Web-site access for these updates. List and explanation of corrections for the main list and Appendix 1. Changes are coded as follows: A 5 authority; C 5 common name; CS 5 change in symbol; D 5 date of name publication; F 5 family; O 5 country of occurrence; PA 5 parentheses added; PD 5 parentheses deleted; S 5 spelling of specific or generic name; + Comment in Appendix 1. Corrected entry listing given here is how we propose to list the taxon in the next (7) edition, except for special notes in brackets ([ ]), planned for publication in 2010 (page numbers here refer to the 6 edition). The changes in common names, however, are deemed to be effective now. Explanation of corrections: Page 189. Euprotomicrus bispinatus. Correction of family placement to Dalatiidae from Etmopteridae. Page 195. Ophichthus frontalis. Parentheses are removed from the author’s name. Page 196. Anchoa exigua. Parentheses were inadvertently omitted from the author’s name; this species was described in Stolephorus. Page 197. Chanos chanos. Change in diacritic mark in spelling of author (Forsskal versus Forsskal). Page 201. Oregonichthys crameri. Formerly recognized as including O. kalawatseti. See O. kalawatseti. Page 206. Noturus baileyi. Common name capitalized as it referred to the Smoky Mountains, from which area the species was described as noted in the 1970 edition. We assume the listing as ‘‘smoky madtom’’ in the 1980 and 1991 editions was an inadvertent error. Page 206. Sciadeops troschelii. Correction of spelling of specific name (from troschellii). Page 206. Sciades hymenorrhinos. Correction of spelling of specific name (from hymenorrhinus). Page 213. Ogilbia ventralis. Parentheses were inadvertently omitted from the author’s name; this species was described in Brosmophycis. Copeia, 2006(3), pp. 559–562

We have constructed an “expert-knowledge classification system” to categorize 309 fish taxa in the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations ichthyoplankton database into primary (coastal, coastal-oceanic, and oceanic) assemblages based on their principal ecological domains and subsequently, secondary assemblages according to the habitat affinities of adults. We examined effects of fishing, climate, adult habitat, and age-at-maturation on long-term variation of fish populations. We tested the hypothesis that populations of unexploited taxa track climatic trends more closely than those of exploited taxa insofar as climatic signals may be confounded by fishing effects. Most oceanic taxa (23/34) showed a significant relationship with environmental variables and followed the trend of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. Very few coastal (3/10) and coastal-oceanic (3/23) taxa exhibited a significant relationship with environmental signals; however, several fluctuated coherently, and age-at-maturation is an important factor. The lack of close correlation between fish populations and environmental signals in the coastal and coastal-oceanic assemblages indicates that these species might show nonlinear biological responses to external forcing rather than a simple linear tracking of environmental variables. We did not find a systematic pattern indicating that fishing influenced population fluctuation of exploited species. Constrained comparisons of exploited to unexploited species living in the same habitat and reaching maturity at the same age revealed evidence of overexploitation for some species but not for all. Our results suggest that considering life history and ecological characteristics of fish species and applying a community approach are important in understanding fishing effects on fish populations in the context of a changing environment.

Four species of eastern North Pacific rockfishes of the genus Sebastes are easily distinguished from their congeners by the coloration characteristic of broad lateral banding. These species are the Tiger Rockfish, S. nigrocinctus; Treefish, S. serriceps; Flag Rockfish, S. rubrivinctus; and Redbanded Rockfish, S. babcocki. These species are shown to be closely related and have been placed in the Sebastichthys clade by Hyde and Vetter (2007). The Tiger Rockfish and Treefish are distinguished by differences in their general body form and coloration of the banding pattern. The Treefish invariably exhibits alternating black, brown, or dark green and yellow bars, and the lips are distinctly pink to red (rarely without coloration). The Tiger Rockfish manifests greater variation in banding with the darker bars being primarily red, but can vary from reddish-black to reddish-brown. The alternating lighter bars are mainly white, but occasionally show a reddish hue. The Flag and Redbanded rockfishes possess alternating red and white bars (Love et al., 2002). The general similarity in body shape and color pattern between the latter two species was cause for them to be considered conspecific from shortly after the year of description of S. babcocki (Thompson, 1915) until Rosenblatt and Chen (1972) clarified the distinction of these species and pointed out a number of meristic and morphological characteristics that definitively separate these two species. The Flag Rockfish was described in the late 1800’s (Jordan and Gilbert, 1880). On 10 February 2004, a uniformly red rockfish (Fig. 1) was encountered by Diane Haas, then a Fishery Technician with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, during routine sampling of commercial groundfishes. The F/V Alex Kevin D had unloaded three market categories of groundfishes: Longspine Thornyhead, Sebastolobus altivelis; Shortspine Thornyhead, S. alascanus; and Blackgill Rockfish, Sebastes melanostomus, which were to be sampled. The uniformly red rockfish was included in the Blackgill Rockfish market category, where a 50 pound cluster was randomly selected from a total landing of 764 pounds. The species composition of the cluster consisted of Blackgill Rockfish, one Rosethorn Rockfish, S. helvomaculatus, and the uniformly red rockfish. Also present in the landing, but not included in the sample, were at least two Rougheye Rockfish, S. aleutianus, (from California the species is now considered as Blackspotted Rockfish, Sebastes melanostictus [Orr and Hawkins, 2008]). The fishes were taken in Monterey Bay (ca. 36u479 N, 122u079 W) by commercial longline gear on the continental slope at a depth of 200–260 fathoms (366–475 meters). The red rockfish was not immediately identifiable with any of the red-colored, outer shelf-upper slope rockfishes normally encountered off central California and was Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 111(1), 2012, pp. 22–24 E Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2012

Nitrification in commercial aquaculture systems has been accomplished using many different technologies (e.g. trickling filters, fluidized beds and rotating biological contactors) but commercial aquaculture systems have been slow to adopt denitrification. Denitrification (conversion of nitrate, NO3 to nitrogen gas, N2) is essential to the development of commercial, closed, recirculating aquaculture systems (B 1 water turnover 100 day 1 ). The problems associated with manually operated denitrification systems have been incomplete denitrification (oxidation‐reduction potential, ORP\ 200 mV) with the production of nitrite (NO2 ), nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) or over-reduction (ORPB 400 mV), resulting in the production of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The need for an anoxic or anaerobic environment for the denitrifying bacteria can also result in lowered dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in the rearing tanks. These problems have now been overcome by the development of a computer automated denitrifying bioreactor specifically designed for aquaculture. The prototype bioreactor (process control version) has been in operation for 4 years and commercial versions of the bioreactor are now in continuous use; these bioreactors can be operated in either batch or continuous on-line modes, maintaining NO3 concentrations below 5 ppm. The bioreactor monitors DO, ORP, pH and water flow rate and controls water pump rate and carbon feed rate. A fuzzy logic-based expert system replaced the classical process control system for operation of the bioreactor, continuing to optimize denitrification rates and eliminate discharge of toxic by-products (i.e. NO2 , NO, N2 Oo r

donna e. kline, nicholas e. donlou, robert n. lea, james b. lindholm and geoffrey g. shester Institute for Applied Marine Ecology at California State University, Monterey Bay, 100 Campus Center, Seaside, CA 93955, California Department of Fish and Game (retired), Marine Region, 20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Monterey, California 93940 and California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California 94118, Oceana, 99 Pacific Street, Suite 155C, Monterey, California, 93940

The goal of the present work is to obtain a reasonable solution to the problem of object identification. Sensors report on certain independent feature values of an object. The Dempster-Shafer theory is used to integrate the information coming from these independent sources. Moreover, the sensors do not report the feature values in a crisp manner. These values are only stochastically determined. Also, in the data base itself, objects only partially belong to classes determined by feature views. This might be due to the inability of the expert or expert system to pinpoint exactly the feature value of a given object. This setting naturally leads to applying the Dempster-Shafer theory to masses whose focal elements are fuzzy sets. A similar approach is taken to produce an economical solution to the problem of object identification. A set of sensors is picked based on performance evaluation.

Some recent problems are no longer formulated in terms of imprecise facts, missing data or inadequate measuring devices. Instead, questions pertaining to knowledge and information itself arise and can be phrased independently of any particular area of knowledge. The problem considered in the present work is how to model a problem solver that is trying to find the answer to some query. The problem solver has access to a large number of knowledge systems that specialize in diverse features. In this context, feature means an indicator of what the possibilities for the answer are. The knowledge systems should not be accessed more than once, in order to have truly independent sources of information. Moreover, these systems are allowed to run in parallel. Since access might be expensive, it is necessary to construct a management policy for accessing these knowledge systems. To help in the access policy, some control knowledge systems are available. Control knowledge systems have knowledge about the performance parameters status of the knowledge systems. In order to carry out the double goal of estimating what units to access and to answer the given query, diverse pieces of evidence must be fused. The Dempster-Shafer Theory of Evidence is used to pool the knowledge bases.

Two sets of expert decision makers are presented with the same query. Their responses to this query are represented by fuzzy sets which induce a generalized basic probability assignment (b.p.a.) over the class of fuzzy sets of the frame of discernment (⋀). The opinions of the two sets of experts are then polled in a conservative manner. The main result establishes a homomorphism from the class of experts with the operation defined by conservative polling into the class of generalized b.p.a.'s over the fuzzy subsets of ⋀ in which the combination operation is defined by Oblow's generalization of the Denlpster–Shafer rule. This result extends to other types of polling

The seventh edition of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico (Page et al. 2013) continues the effort established by the six earlier editions to standardiz...

A fuzzy system for maintaining joint rates as commanded by a human operator, or an intelligent guidance system, in the remote control of a multi-joint robotic manipulator system is described. The inputs to the system are joint rate commands required to translate or rotate the point of resolution of a robotic arm. The system maintains the joint rates at the required levels based on feedback from joint angle encoders, their respective time tags, and fuzzy logic based rules to account for the robotic arm dynamics. We discuss the rate maintenance system implemented and tested in a Remote Manipulator System Simulator (RMSS) at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).

Several camera tracking controllers based on fuzzy logic principles have been designed and tested in software simulation in the software technology at the Johnson Space Center. The fuzzy logic based controllers utilize range measurement and pixel positions from the image as input parameters and provide pan and tilt gimble rate commands as output. Two designs of the rule base and tuning process applied to the membership functions are discussed in light of optimizing performance for a v-bar approach testcase. The two controller designs are compared in terms of responsiveness, and ability to maintain the object in the field-of-view of the camera. >

One of the major problems facing modern filtration technology is the cost-effective filtration of nitrate, NO/sub 3/. The design of a cost-effective, integrated nitrogen removal system including both nitrification and denitrification processes is paramount to the continued development of commercial recirculating aquaculture systems. Current nitrification systems are adequate and many are commercially available; however, current techniques for denitrification are almost exclusively based on water exchange. The purpose of this research is to produce the first commercial, autonomous denitrification filter, using extant biotechnology (i.e., biological reactors and artificial intelligence). The goal of the study has been to design a fuzzy logic system to control the operation of a denitrification bioreactor developed by the University of Texas Medical Branch, Marine Biomedical institute, for use in a closed recirculating aquaculture system. The development of a prototype system was accomplished through a multi-disciplinary program involving computer scientists, bioengineers, biochemists and aquaculturists.

In this paper we extend previous work done at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on the development of a fuzzy logic controller to generate individual joint rate commands to the robotic arm in response to human input, via remote manipulation of translational and rotational hand controllers. In this phase of the study we have utilized the Goddard Space FLight Center Remote Manipulator hardware/software system in which the fuzzy logic controller has currently been implemented, and have used this system for tuning the controller for near optimal response. Performance results from the system studies are presented.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The Tethered Satellite System (TSS) consisting of the Shuttle, tether, and an Italian satellite, has complex and non-linear dynamics because of the spring-like behavior of the tether and its interaction with two six degrees-of-freedom end-bodies. The TSS has natural librational and longitudinal oscillations, whose characteristics change as the tether is deployed and retrieved. When the finite mass of the tether is properly modeled, the TSS also exhibits 'skip rope' motion, particularly if the motion is excited by the interaction between the geomagnetic field and electric current in the tether. A conventional control system based on the linearization of the system dynamics is employed in the onboard software. Its inputs are sensed length, length rate, and tension parameters and it is expected to maintain not only the length but also the in-plane librational angle. Due to the complexity of this problem and the recent success of fuzzy logic techniques in controlling systems with non-linear dynamics using imprecise measurements as input from sensors, a fuzzy logic based tether length controller has been developed and implemented into the TSS simulation to investigate the usefulness and robustness that can be achieved with fuzzy control. In this chapter, a concept which utilizes fuzzy membership functions for length, length rate, and voltage parameters, and the rulebase used in generating the control voltage signal is described. Initially, a simple proportional controller was created based on length error only. Later, the length rate error was included as input, and the rulebase was expanded. In order to have a fair comparison between the conventional and fuzzy controllers, tension feedback was not included as an input to the controllers since it is not an input to the conventional controller. Test results indicate that the fuzzy controller keeps the length error smaller throughout the mission, and the amplitude of the tension oscillations during the retrieval phase is also smaller. One surprising benefit, in addition to better length control, is smaller in-plane librational oscillations during the retrieval phase. Overall the results of the study indicate that fuzzy logic based control can provide the simplicity and robustness desired for complex tethered operations in space.

The feasibility of operating tethered payloads in earth orbit will be studied during a space shuttle flight scheduled for 1992. Tethered systems may exhibit a circular transverse oscillation or skiprope phenomenon due to interaction between the earth's magnetic field and current pulsing through the tether. Effective damping of this skiprope motion depends on rapid and accurate detection of its magnitude and phase. Satellite attitude motion has characteristic oscillations as well as many other perturbations and therefore the relationship between skiprope parameters and attitude time history is very complex and nonlinear. A space-time neural network (STNN) for filtering satellite rate gyro data is proposed for rapid detection and prediction of skiprope magnitude and phase. A validated orbital operations simulator and STNN software will be used for training and testing of this skiprope detection system. The advantages of STNNs are discussed and STNN configurations and preliminary results are presented.

Applications of fuzzy logic technologies in NASA projects are reviewed to examine their advantages in the development of neural networks for aerospace and commercial expert systems and control. Examples of fuzzy-logic applications include a 6-DOF spacecraft controller, collision-avoidance systems, and reinforcement-learning techniques. The commercial applications examined include a fuzzy autofocusing system, an air conditioning system, and an automobile transmission application. The practical use of fuzzy logic is set in the theoretical context of artificial neural systems (ANSs) to give the background for an overview of ANS research programs at NASA. The research and application programs include the Network Execution and Training Simulator and faster training algorithms such as the Difference Optimized Training Scheme. The networks are well suited for pattern-recognition applications such as predicting sunspots, controlling posture maintenance, and conducting adaptive diagnoses.

A recently proposed hybrid-neutral-network and fuzzy-logic-control architecture is applied to a fuzzy logic controller developed for attitude control of the Space Shuttle. A model using reinforcement learning and learning from past experience for fine-tuning its knowledge base is proposed. Two main components of this approximate reasoning-based intelligent control (ARIC) model - an action-state evaluation network and action selection network are described as well as the Space Shuttle attitude controller. An ARIC model for the controller is presented, and it is noted that the input layer in each network includes three nodes representing the angle error, angle error rate, and bias node. Preliminary results indicate that the controller can hold the pitch rate within its desired deadband and starts to use the jets at about 500 sec in the run.

The development philosophy of the fuzzy logic controller is explained, details of the rules and membership functions used are given, and the early results of testing of the control system for a representative range of scenarios are reported. The fuzzy attitude controller was found capable of performing all rotational maneuvers, including rate hold and rate maneuvers. It handles all orbital perturbations very efficiently and is very responsive in correcting errors.

Problems of implementing rule-based expert systems using fuzzy sets are considered. A fuzzy logic software development shell is used that allows inclusion of both crisp and fuzzy rules in decision making and process control problems. Results are given that compare this type of expert system to a human expert in some specific applications. Advantages and disadvantages of such systems are discussed.

We examined data from our own and published collections of intertidal and shallow littoral fishes of the North American Pacific Coast with respect to temporal and spatial trends in species composition and dominance. We compared (1) recent and past intertidal collections made five and seven years apart, respectively, for two California localities, (2) intertidal collections from twelve localities in California, Oregon, and British Columbia, and (3) intertidal versus subtidal collections at one California locality. Temporal comparisons indicated substantially lower abundance of the cottid Oligocottus snyderi at two California localities during 1984, at one locality due to depressed abundance of young. Interannual differences in abundances suggested that other tidepool fish assemblages undergo significant changes as well. Geographical comparisons indicated general similarity in species composition, with cottids predominating in tidepools although several other families also were well represented (e.g., Stichaeidae, Scorpaenidae). Eel-shaped stichaeids and pholids occurred at high densities in exposed boulder fields. Both the tidepool and boulder field assemblages showed north-south changes in species abundances. Comparison of collections from the intertidal and subtidal zones at one California locality demonstrated that fishes of these habitats form two essentially distinct assemblages, with most species restricted to or concentrated in one or the other habitat.

Rendezvous during the unmanned space exploration missions, such as a Mars Rover/Sample Return will require a completely automatic system from liftoff to docking. A conceptual design of an automated rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking system is being implemented and validated at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). The emphasis is on the progress of the development and testing of a prototype system for control of the rendezvous vehicle during proximity operations that is currently being developed at JSC. Fuzzy sets are used to model the human capability of common sense reasoning in decision making tasks and such models are integrated with the expert systems and engineering control system technology to create a system that performs comparably to a manned system.

Numerical integration based on definition of Riemann integral, describing application to nonlinear integral equations of isotropic scattering of radiation in plane parallel atmosphere