Researcher:
Balcı, Patricia A. Ramey

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Patricia A. Ramey

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Balcı

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Balcı, Patricia A. Ramey

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2016 - 20209

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    Benthic invertebrate community composition and sediment properties in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, 1965-2014
    (Coastal Education and Research Foundation, 2017) Taghon, Gary L.; Fuller, Charlotte M.; Petrecca, Rosemarie F.; Grassle, Judith P.; Belton, Thomas J.; N/A; Balcı, Patricia A. Ramey; Researcher; College of Sciences; N/A
    Extended time series of estuarine benthic community composition and the chemical and physical properties of sediment are necessary for distinguishing natural variation from possible anthropogenic influences, such as EUtrophication. In July 2012, 2013, and 2014, 97 stations, randomly located throughout the Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor estuary, were sampled. Benthic invertebrates were abundant, and the community was, in general, highly diverse. Although there was considerable spatial variability in sediment-particle sizes throughout the estuary, overall the total organic carbon content of the sediments was low (<1%). Comparable historical data from 1965-2010 are spotty in spatial and temporal coverage, limiting comparisons to these recent data. Where comparisons can be made, the abundance and species composition of the benthos and the sediment properties, show few changes in 45 years. Despite high nutrient loading to this coastal bay, its shallow depth and general lack of stratification lead to relatively high dissolved oxygen levels, and it seems likely that heterotrophs in the sediments, both EUkaryotes and prokaryotes, are rapidly metabolizing organic matter as it is produced.
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    Violence against women in Turkey: a social ecological framework of determinants and prevention strategies
    (Sage Publications Inc, 2020) Tekkas Kerman; N/A; Balcı, Patricia A. Ramey; Researcher; College of Sciences; N/A
    Violence against women (VAW) in Turkey is concerning, and to develop and implement effective prevention strategies for addressing it, careful consideration must be given to the factors that influence it. In this review, we synthesized the body of literature on VAW in Turkey according to a social ecological framework, which is a theoretical model considering the complex interplay between individual, relationship, community, and societal factors. Consistent with this framework, we obtained research articles and commentaries in Turkish and English from a variety of national and international databases and websites regarding risk factors, cultural practices violating women's rights, and trends and current practices, including prevention efforts. Our review revealed that factors influencing VAW are marriage at young age, lower education level, alcohol abuse, and childhood trauma or abuse history for individual level; having multiple partners, low relationship satisfaction, and forced marriage for relationship level; poverty, lack of social support, and lack of employment opportunities for community level; cultural acceptance of men's superiority and dominance over women, acceptance of violence, cultural practices, and weak legal sanctions for societal level. Additionally, we reviewed multilevel prevention strategies in the extant literature on effective prevention and intervention efforts according to social ecological framework and proposed research, practice, and policy implications derived from this framework.
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    Benthic community structure and sediment properties in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, before and after Hurricane Sandy
    (Springer, 2017) Taghon, Gary L.; Fuller, Charlotte M.; Petrecca, Rosemarie F.; Grassle, Judith P.; N/A; Balcı, Patricia A. Ramey; Researcher; College of Sciences; N/A
    Hurricane Sandy was an extraordinarily large storm that affected most of the eastern coast of the USA in October 2012. To assess this storm's impact, the benthic invertebrate community structure and sediment properties were compared in samples collected 3.5 months prior to (July 2012) and 8 months after (July 2013) the hurricane at 97 locations in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, USA. Barnegat Bay is a shallow back-barrier estuary just north of where Sandy made landfall. For all locations taken together, sediment total nitrogen concentration was lower afterwards, while total organic carbon and total phosphorus concentrations were similar. Sediment median particle size was the same before and after, but the sediment was better sorted after the storm. There were no differences in total abundance of invertebrates, species richness, species diversity, or the abundance of polychaetes, bivalves, or gastropods. Malacostracan crustaceans were more abundant after Sandy (average 82 (0.04 m(2))(-1)) than they were before (average 64), due almost entirely to increased abundance of ampeliscid amphipods, which showed a shift toward smaller sizes in 2013. Annelids in the order Clitellata were on average less abundant after the hurricane (17) than before (53). The apparent minimal effect of Sandy on the benthic community in Barnegat Bay was probably because the passage of the hurricane had no detectable effects on salinity or dissolved oxygen concentrations throughout the bay.
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    Ultrastructural differences in presumed photoreceptive organs and molecular data as a means for species discrimination in polygordius (annelida, protodriliformia, polygordiidae)
    (Springer Heidelberg, 2016) Lehmacher, Christine; Wolff, Lena I.; Fiege, Dieter; Purschke, Guenter; N/A; Balcı, Patricia A. Ramey; Researcher; College of Sciences; N/A
    Members of Polygordiidae Czerniavsky, 1881 are distributed worldwide and are typical inhabitants of coarse grained, marine sublittoral sediments. Species in Polygordiidae are unusual among polychaetes because they lack external segmentation, parapodia, and chaetae as well as external ciliation. Morphological characters for species distinction are thus limited to the shape and minute structures of the prostomium and pygidium. As a result, morphological identification and description of the Polygordius species is difficult. In the present study, we provide new data for species distinction using molecular and morphological methods, i.e., DNA-sequencing (COI gene), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (cLSM). Specifically, we investigated whether the photoreceptor-like sense organs, previously described for Polygordius appendiculatus Fraipont, 1887, could provide additional characters of taxonomic value by examining the ultrastructure of these organs in two additional species, Polygordius erythrophthalmus Giard, 1880 and Polygordius lacteus Schneider, 1868. These organs were found to occur in comparatively large numbers and comprise different types of sensory cells including one rhabdomeric and two ciliary, which are variously combined to form small sensory organs. Structural differences in sensory organs were negligible between P. erythrophthalmus and P. lacteus; however, major differences were observed when compared to P. appendiculatus. These results are in accordance with our molecular data which indicated that P. erythrophthalmus and P. lacteus represent the same species. Thus P. erythrophthalmus is an invalid species and represents a junior synonym of P. lacteus. Furthermore, this study shows that ultrastructural data can significantly contribute to species distinction, especially in morphologically similar species.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Molecular phylogeny, morphology, and distribution of Polygordius (Polychaeta: Polygordiidae) in the Atlantic and Mediterranean
    (Elsevier, 2018) Fiege, Dieter; Struck, Torsten; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Balcı, Patricia A. Ramey; Researcher; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; College of Sciences
    Low morphological diversity among interstitial taxa makes it difficult to delimit species and their geographic boundaries based solely on morphology and molecular data often reveal cryptic species. Polygordius (Annelida, Polygordiidae) have low morphological diversity, but are unusual among interstitial species in their comparatively large size due to their elongated form, high fecundity, and potential for long-distance dispersal via a planktotrophic larval stage. Polygordius species collected from 14 localities in the Northwest Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and Southwest Atlantic including several of the respective type localities were analysed. This study presents the first phylogeny of the genus Polygordius and combines molecular data, sequences of COI, 16S and ITS1/2 genes, and morphological data for a systematic re-evaluation focusing on Atlantic species, with an emphasis on populations from European waters. Phylogenetic analyses recovered six valid species (P. appendiculatus, P. lacteus, P. neapolitanus, P. triestinus, P. jouinae, and P. eschaturus) and their distinctness is confirmed by haplotype network analyses. Thus, molecular data supported the validity of the previously recognized morphospecies and no new species were present. P. erythrophthalmus and P. villoti are invalid species being synonymous with P. lacteus. Subtle differences in head and pygidial morphology and larval type (endolarva vs. exolarva), were useful characters for discrimination. Yet seemingly significant variation in characters among individuals in some species was not diagnostic (e.g., number of pygidial cirri). Highly similar species based on adult morphology were shown to be sister taxa occurring in allopatry. Present day distribution patterns of species are summarized in light of this study.
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    Seafloor biodiversity of Canada's three oceans: patterns, hotspots and potential drivers
    (Wiley, 2020) Wei, Chih-Lin; Cusson, Mathieu; Archambault, Philippe; Belley, Renald; Brown, Tanya; Burd, Brenda J.; Edinger, Evan; Kenchington, Ellen; Gilkinson, Kent; Lawton, Peter; Link, Heike; Scrosati, Ricardo A.; Snelgrove, Paul V. R.; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Balcı, Patricia A. Ramey; Researcher; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; College of Sciences; 261777
    Aim: we examined the relationships between bathymetry, latitude and energy and the diversity of marine benthic invertebrates across wide environmental ranges of Canada's three oceans. Location: Canadian Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic Oceans from the intertidal zone to upper bathyal depths, encompassing 13 marine ecoregions. Methods: we compiled 35 benthic datasets that encompass 3,337 taxa (70% identified to species and 21% to genus) from 13,172 samples spanning 6,117 sites. Partitioning the analyses by different gear types, ecoregions or sites, we used Hill numbers to examine spatial patterns in alpha-diversity. We used resampling and extrapolation to standardized sampling effort and examined the effects of depth, latitude, chemical energy (export particulate organic carbon [POC] flux), thermal energy (bottom temperature) and seasonality of primary production on the benthic biodiversity. Results: the Canadian Arctic harboured the highest benthic diversity (e.g. epifauna and common and dominant infauna species), whereas the lowest diversity was found in the Atlantic. The Puget Trough (Pacific), Beaufort Sea, Arctic Archipelago, Hudson Bay, Northern Labrador and Southern Grand Bank (Atlantic) were the "hotspots" of diversity among the ecoregions. The infauna and epifauna both exhibited hump-shaped diversity-depth relationships, with peak diversity near shelf breaks; latitude (positively) predicted infaunal diversity, albeit weakly. Food supply, as inferred from primary production and depth, was more important than thermal energy in controlling diversity patterns. Limitations with respect to calculating POC flux in coastal (e.g. terrestrial runoff) and ice-covered regions or biological interactions may explain the negative POC flux-infaunal diversity relationship. Main conclusions: we show previously unreported diversity hotspots in the Canadian Arctic and in other ecoregions. Our analyses reveal potential controlling mechanisms of large-scale benthic biodiversity patterns in Canada's three oceans, which are inconsistent with the prevailing view of seafloor energy-diversity relationships. These results provide insightful information for conservation that can help to implement further MPA networks.
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    The BenBioDen database, a global database for meio-, macro- and megabenthic biomass and densities
    (Nature Publishing Group (NPG), 2020) Stratmann, T.; van Oevelen, D.; Martínez Arbizu, P.; Wei, C.-L.; Liao, J.-X.; Cusson, M.; Scrosati, R.A.; Archambault, P.; Snelgrove, P.V.R.; Burd, B.J.; Kenchington, E.; Gilkinson, K.; Belley, R.; Soetaert, K.; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Balcı, Patricia A. Ramey; Researcher; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; College of Sciences; 261777
    Benthic fauna refers to all fauna that live in or on the seafloor, which researchers typically divide into size classes meiobenthos (32/64 µm–0.5/1 mm), macrobenthos (250 µm–1 cm), and megabenthos (>1 cm). Benthic fauna play important roles in bioturbation activity, mineralization of organic matter, and in marine food webs. Evaluating their role in these ecosystem functions requires knowledge of their global distribution and biomass. We therefore established the BenBioDen database, the largest open-access database for marine benthic biomass and density data compiled so far. In total, it includes 11,792 georeferenced benthic biomass and 51,559 benthic density records from 384 and 600 studies, respectively. We selected all references following the procedure for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and report biomass records as grams of wet mass, dry mass, or ash-free dry mass, or carbon per m2 and as abundance records as individuals per m2. This database provides a point of reference for future studies on the distribution and biomass of benthic fauna.
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    A new genus and species of spionid polychaete (Annelida, Spionidae) from a deep-water cold seep site in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea off Turkey
    (Magnolia Press, 2020) Blake, James A.; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Balcı, Patricia A. Ramey; Researcher; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; College of Sciences; 261777
    A new spionid polychaete was discovered in deep-sea sediments in the eastern Mediterranean Sea during an expedition by the Ocean Exploration Trust. Specimens were collected by the E/V Nautilus in August 2012 off Turkey, at a depth of 2216 m on the Anaximander Seamount at the Amsterdam mud volcano site. Cores were taken from sediments covered with microbial mats. The new species belongs to the Pygospiopsis-Atherospio Group, which has unusual neuropodial hooks, modified neurosetae in some anterior setigers, and branchiae in middle body segments that are broad, flattened, and fused to the dorsal lamellae. The new species is assigned to a new genus and species, Aciculaspio anaximanderi n. gen., n. sp., and is unusual in having a reduced setiger 1 lacking notosetae; well-developed pre- and postsetal lamellae that encompass the neurosetae and notosetae; notopodial lamellae free from the branchiae in anterior setigers that become fused and flattened in middle and posterior segments; unidentate hooded hooks in both noto- and neuropodia; neuropodial spines in setigers 4-10; and a pygidium with three anal cirri. Aciculaspio anaximanderi n. gen., n. sp. is the first species in the Atherospio-Pygospiopsis Group collected from a deep-water cold seep habitat.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    More knot worms: four new Polygordius (Annelida) species from the Pacific and Caribbean
    (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2020) Tustison, Chrissy A.; Rouse, Greg W.; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Balcı, Patricia A. Ramey; Researcher; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; College of Sciences; 261777
    Polygordius is a clade of marine annelids mainly seen in coarse-grained habitats. They are notable for their smooth bodies, lacking in chaetae or obvious segments, and they resemble Nematoda or Nemertea. Though Polygordius taxa are found in all oceans of the world, identifying species based only on morphological characters can be challenging due to their relatively uniform external appearances. Diversity within the clade has likely been markedly underestimated. Where morphological characters are inconspicuous or even unreliable, molecular methods can provide clarity in delimiting species. In this study, morphological methods (examination under light and scanning electron microscopy) were integrated with molecular analyses (sequencing of Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 16S rRNA and Histone H3 gene fragments) to establish the systematic placement of Polygordius specimens collected from Australia, Belize, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Japan, and the U.S. west coast. These analyses revealed three new species of Polygordius from the Pacific Ocean (P. erikae n. sp., P. kurthcarolae n. sp., and P. kurthsusanae n. sp.) as well as one new species from the Caribbean Sea (P. jenniferae n. sp.). These new species are formally described, and a previously known Japanese species, P. pacificus Uchida, 1936, is redescribed. This study establishes the first molecular data set for Polygordius species from the Pacific region, as well as the first formal description of a Caribbean species of Polygordius. Phylogenetic relationships within Polygordius are summarized and discussed.