Recent benthic-planktic foraminiferal assemblages and sediment distribution of the Gulf of Saros (Northern Aegean Sea)

Bu çalışma, Çanakkale Boğazı'nın kuzeyindeki Saros Körfezi'nde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Morfolojik yapısına bakıldığında, Saros Körfezi büyük ölçüde faylanmanın egemen olduğu bir deniz niteliğini taşımakta ve Ege Denizi'nin derin olan alanlarından birini oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmada; Saros Körfezi'nin sığ sularından alınan 80 çökel örneğinin bentik ve planktik foraminiferlerinin taksonomik dağılımları ile ekolojik koşulları incelenmiştir. Bölgede toplam 53 familya, 46 altfamilya ve 94 cinse ait 163 foraminifer türü tayin edilmiştir. Daha sonra, bölgedeki baskın ve resesif bentik ile planktik foraminifer türleri tanımlanmış ve bunların istasyonlara göre dağılımları belirtilmiştir. Bölgenin en önemli özelliği; belirli noktalarda denizaltında var olan fay/faylarla bağlantılı termal mineralli suların neden olduğu, oldukça iri denilebilecek boyuttaki bentik ve planktik foraminiferlerin varlığıdır. Bir diğer önemli belirleme ise, gerek bazı bentik ve gerekse bazı planktik foraminifer kavkılarının bir bölümünün doğal olarak koyu kırmızı renkli olmasıdır.This study was carried out in the Gulf of Saros, located to the north of Çanakkale Srait -Dardanelles-. The Gulf of Saros, morphologically in a great scale dominated faulting system, has a deep marine character and is one of the deepest part of the Aegean Sea. In this study, taxonomic distribution and ecologic conditions of the benthic and planktic foraminifera of 80 samples collected from shallow parts of the Gulf of Saros were investigated. A total of 163 foraminiferal species from 53 families, 46 subfamilies, and. 95 genera were identified. Then, dominant and recessive benthic and planktic foraminiferal species of the region were described and their distribution according to stations was submitted. The most important feature of the field in some distinct localities, which is considered to be related with faulted contact on the subsurface, is the presence of different size benthic and planktic foraminifera. The natural reddish colour of the benthic and planktic foraminiferal tests presents the second important aspect

Underwater morphology of the Aegean Sea and natural prolongation of the Anatolian mainland

Ege Denizinin morfolojik yapısının ortaya konması, Doğu Ege Denizinde bulunan bazı adaların, Anadolu'nun doğal uzantısı üzerinde olduğunun saptanması açısından oldukça önemlidir. Ege Denizi'nin morfolojik özellikleri, okyanusal kabuğa sahip bir deniz tabanından son derece farklıdır. Ege Denizinde "S" şeklindeki derin (>1000 m) çukurlukların kenarlarının dik eğimli yamaçlarla çevrili olması ve uzanımlarının doğrusal karakter göstermesi, bunların eğim atımlı normal faylarla geliştiğini işaret etmektedir. Ege Denizindeki sığ kesimler, bitişik oldukları anakaraların morfolojik karakterlerini taşımakta, onların su altında kalmış devamları olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu çalışmada, eldeki jeolojik ve jeofizik verilerden bölgenin güncel denizaltı morfolojik yapısı ortaya çıkarılmış, Doğu Ege Denizindeki Yunan adalarının, deniz alanı çökmeğe başlamadan önce bölgedeki yüksek dağların üst kesimlerini oluşturduğu ve günümüzde sualtında bulunan Doğu Ege Denizinin, Anadolu'nun sular altında kalmış doğal bir uzantısı olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ege Denizinde iki ülke anakaraları arasında doğal bir sınırın daha batıda ve Yunanistan kıyılarına yakın bir yerden geçtiği saptanmış ve bu nedenle Doğu Ege Denizi Adalarının Anadolu'nun doğal uzantısı üzerinde olduğu açıkça ortaya konmuştur

Alien Benthic Foraminifers from Turkish Strait System

The Sea of Marmara is under the influence of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. The salinity difference between these two seas causes the formation of two-layer stratification in the Sea of Marmara, an upper layer formed by the fresh waters of the Black Sea and a denser layer formed below 25 m of depth, by the more saline waters of the Mediterranean. The salinity difference, together with the seasonally changing meteorological events are the major factors which shape the main current system. The Mediterranean waters enter the Dardanelles cross the Sea of Marmara and flows into the Black Sea via İstanbul Strait, which enables the dispersion of the alien foraminifer species already established on the Aegean coasts into the Sea of Marmara. Besides, the Sea of Marmara includes important harbors, suggesting that there is an extensive pressure of alien species introduced by ballast waters. In this study, 322 sediment samples, obtained from different localities in Dardanelles, İstanbul Strait and Sea of Marmara, were investigated for the alien foraminifer species. The results are combined with the previous records in the literature for creating an alien foraminifer checklist for the Sea of Marmara. 10 alien foraminifer species belonging to 9 genera were found in Dardanelles, 32 alien species from 28 genera in the Sea of Marmara, and only 2 alien species from 2 genera were found in İstanbul Strait. Majority of these alien species have Indo-Pacific or Atlantic origin, suggesting that shipping may be the most possible mode of introduction. But it is also observed that some of the Indo-Pacific originated species which were introduced Suez Canal and formed established populations along the Turkish coastline are also found in Dardanelles, indicating that major currents systems are also playing a role in the dispersion patterns of the alien foraminifers in the Sea of Marmara. Another important factor may be the thermal submarine springs found on the bottom of the Sea of Marmara, which may create suitable environmental conditions and enhance the establishment of thermophilic alien species

Serum Procalcitonin and Proinflammatory markers in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objective: We evaluated levels of procalcitonin and proinflammatory markers in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and compared them with controls in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Study Design: This prospective controlled study involved patients with PCOS (n=59) and healthy age-matched controls (n=26; total, n=85). Serum procalcitonin (PCT), white blood cells (WBCs), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (h-CRP), homocysteine (Hcy) levels, insulin resistance, and lipid profiles were compared between the PCOS and control groups. The same parameters were also compared between overweight and normal-weight PCOS patients. Results: Serum PCT, Hcy, h-CRP, and WBC levels were similar in the PCOS and control groups. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were lower in the PCOS group than in the control group (p <0.05). In a subgroup analysis of the PCOS group, there were no significant differences between overweight and normal-weight PCOS patients with regard to proinflammatory markers (serum WBC, h-CRP, Hcy, PCT levels). However, total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in overweight PCOS patients (p <0.005). Serum HDL levels were significantly lower in the overweight PCOS group than in the normal-weight group (p <0.005). Fasting insulin and HOMA-IR levels were significantly higher in overweight PCOS than normal-weight PCOS patients (p<0.05). Conclusions: Serum PCT, h-CRP, WBC, and Hcy levels were within normal ranges in PCOS patients. These results may be related to the relatively young age and regional differences in the study group

Crushing behavior and energy absorption performance of a bio-inspired metallic structure: Experimental and numerical study

A thin-walled structure inspired from a biologic creature known as balanus was investigated experimentally and numerically under quasi-static and dynamic loads for load-carrying and energy absorption properties. The structure was composed of an inner conical core with a hemispherical cap and an outer shell in frusto-conical shape and formed by deep drawing. The applied deep drawing process was modelled using nonlinear finite element code LS-DYNA to determine the residual stress/strain and the non-linear thickness distribution after the forming process. It was also shown that the load carried by the balanus structure was greater than the arithmetic sum of the load carried by the inner core and by the outer shell separately. Although the mean force increase due to interaction effect at quasi-static strain rate was approximately 5%, while it increased to roughly 26% at dynamic strain rates in drop weight experiments. The numerical models also showed that the outer shell absorbed more energy than the inner core while the difference between the energy absorbing performance of the core and shell decreased with increasing deformation rate. The effect of strain rate and inertia on the increase in crush load increased with increasing impact velocity, while the strain rate effect had greater influence than the inertia on the crush load. The increased load carrying capacity of the balanus at quasi-static and dynamic strain rates was ascribed to the interaction between the core and shell and the confinement effect of the outer shell particularly at dynamic strain rate.TUBITAK (214M339

Sedimentation rates in the Sea of Marmara: a comparison of results based on organic carbon-primary productivity and 210Pb dating

A large number of surficial sediment samples (75 grab samples, one boomerang core, four box cores) as well as primary productivity measurements have been used to estimate the rates of sediment accumulation in the Sea of Marmara; using an empirical expression for the relationship between surface productivity and organic carbon content of the sediment (MOLLER-SUESS formula). It was found that calculated low sedimentation rates occurred on the inner southern Marmara shelf (ave. 8 cm 1000 y-1) where the primary production was relatively high (ave. 161 gC m-2 y-1); and vice versa, high sedimentation rates were calculated for the southwestern shelf (123 cm 1000 y-1), an area with very low primary productivity (64 gC m-2 y-1). This discrepancy among the values, is probably due to the combined effects of the distinctive and peculiar oceanography of the Sea of Marmara (well stratified flow, strong horizontal transport, and varying conditions for mineralization of organic matter etc.)

Variations and Factors Affecting the Benthic Foraminifer Assemblages Around the Submarine Springs Which are Known/Suggested to Be Present on the Eastern Aegean Coasts of Turkey Doğu Ege Denizi Türkiye Kiyilarinda Varliği Bilinen veya Düşünülen Deniz İçi Termal Çiktilar Çevresinde Gözlenen Bentik Foraminifer Topluluklarinda Belirlenen Değişimler ve Etkenler

© 2019, Hacettepe Universitesi Yerbilmler. All rights reserved.Benthic foraminifer assemblages have been known to include individuals with colored tests and morphological abnormalities on the coasts of Eastern Aegean Sea (Turkey) and Lesbos Island (Greece). For same reasons, surroundings of the thermal springs that are known to be present or suggested to be present were studied. Great qualitative and quantitative differences were observed in the distributions of the alien species, such as Coscinospira hemprichii, Euthomonacha polita, Peneroplis pertusus, P. planatus, Amphisorus hemprichii, Sorites orbiculus, S. variabilis, Cymbaloporetta plana, C. squammosa and Amphistegina lessonii, A. lobifera. The foraminifer assemblages around the thermal spring in Kuşadasi Bay were found to be rich in alien species, wheras, an exact opposite case was observed in Doğanbey Bay. The assemblages in Karaburun Peninsula and Ilica Cove also showed differences. The alien foraminifer Amphistegina lobifera, which is typical for the Aegean Sea, was not found in Ilica, but it was abundant in the recent sediment samples collected from northwest of Karaburun Peninsula. On the north, two thermal springs, with 40oC and 51oC temperatures, are closely located on the coast of Ilica Cape, near Aliağa (İzmir). Except Amphistegina lobifera, the alien species, such as, Peneroplis pertusus, P. planatus Amphisorus hemprichii and Sorites orbiculus, which are typical for Aegean Sea were not observed in the 13 samples collected from the region. Differences were found when the findings of the present study are compared with previous studies conducted in Kuşadasi, Doğanbey and northwest of Karaburun Peninsula, which worths attention. Peneroplis pertusus, P. planatus, Coscinospira hemprichii, Sorites orbiculus and Amphistegina lobifera individuals have been observed in the above mentioned localities, but none of them were found in Aliağa samples. These findings can be explained by the differences in environmental factors. For example, except Amphistegina lobifera, the above mentioned benthic foraminifer species have been observed around the thermal spring in Çeşme Ilica Cove, which had a temperature of 28.4oC. Southern Pacific and Red Sea originated Euthomonacha polita and Coscinospira acicularis individuals have been abundantly found in Kuşadasi Bay, Ilica Cove and northwest of Karaburun Peninsula. The absence of the mentioned five benthic foraminifers and any other alien foraminifer around the two thermal springs with 51oC and 40oC temperatures on Aliağa Ilica Cape, suggests that certain temperatures are required for these genera and species to live and the temperature values of the springs on Ilica Cape are too high. According to these findings, different genera and species are affected by the environmental conditions and they can, or not, continue to survive. Besides, numerous gypsum crystals were observed in sample A11 from samples of Ilica Cape, suggesting a thermal spring has been present in the past. In contrasts to high biodiversity of the foraminifer fauna, ostracod and mollusc fauna were very poor, which might be the result of sulphate found in the thermal water. Sulphate might have a negative effect on ostracod and molluscs, but not on foraminifers. It is evident that these alien foraminifer species are affected by the physical or chemical environmental conditions, can proliferate and expand in suitable regions, but cannot survive in certain locations. In addition, alien benthic foraminifers were also observed on the northwestern and western Aegean Sea (Greece), which did not show a diverse genera and species composition. However, detailed studies which should be conducted in the future will probably show the presence of a diverse alien foraminiferal fauna on these coasts