Joseph S. Ramus | Scholars@Duke

Joseph S. Ramus
Professor Emeritus

The theme of my research is the ecological response of a large estuary, the Pamlico Sound system, to watershed scale natural and anthropogenic perturbations. The information will be used in predictive modeling to guide policy and management actions, e.g., river basin nutrient management plans. A specific program, initiated in 2000 with Hans Paerl (UNC-CH-IMS), is FerryMon. This is time and space intensive measurement of water quality parameters, and is designed to fast track status and trends analysis for the Sound. It utilizes fully automated sonde and grab sampler systems aboard NC DOT ferries which ply the Pamlico Sound and its tributary rivers. A high priority is the coupling of the FerryMon program to coastal remote sensing (IR, VIS and LIDAR). FerryMon data are an ideal calibration tool for remote sensors, the latter offering 2-D coverage of the Pamlico Sound system. FerryMon is sufficiently time intensive to coincide with remote sensor flyovers without scheduling logistics, and therefore is the ideal complement to remote sensing programs.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor Emeritus, Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment 2013

Contact Information

135 Duke Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516
jramus@duke.edu (252) 504-7617

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of California - Berkeley 1968
- B.A., University of California - Berkeley 1963
Duke Appointment History
- Research Professor, Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment 2003 - 2013
- Professor with Tenure, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University 1992 - 2003
- Director, Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment 1990 - 1994
- Professor with Tenure, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1985 - 1991
- Assistant Director, Academic Affairs, Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment 1981 - 1990
- Acting Director, DUML, Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment 1989
- Associate Professor with Tenure, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1980 - 1985
- Assistant Professor, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1978 - 1980
Expertise
Global Scholarship
- Research
  - North Carolina (State or Province)
  - United States of America (Country)
Research
Selected Grants
- Coupling Human and Natural Influences on Coastline Evolution as Climate Changes awarded by National Science Foundation 2005 - 2011
- FSML - Technology and Teleconferencing Improvements for the Duke University Marine Laboratory awarded by National Science Foundation 2005 - 2008
- FSML-Living Resources Care System awarded by Division of Undergraduate Education 1997 - 2000
- Support of CIFO and DUML Distance Learning Teleconferencing and Distance DukeNet Conductivity awarded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1994 - 1995
- Minority Training Program in Marine Sciences awarded by National Science Foundation 1992 - 1994
- Oceanographic Equipment and Pier Renewal for New Coastal Ocean Research and Training Vessel awarded by National Science Foundation 1991 - 1994
- Minority Training Program in Marine Sciences awarded by National Science Foundation 1991 - 1993
- Photo-inhibition and the Ecology of Marine Macroalgae awarded by National Science Foundation 1988 - 1992
- Photoinhibition and the Ecology of Marine Microalgae awarded by National Science Foundation 1988 - 1992
- Photoinhibition and the Ecology of Marine Macroalgae awarded by National Science Foundation 1988 - 1990
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Paerl, Hans W., Karen L. Rossignol, Rodney Guajardo, Nathan S. Hall, Alan R. Joyner, Benjamin L. Peierls, and Joseph S. Ramus. “FenyMon: ferry-based monitoring and assessment of human and climatically driven environmental change in the Albemarle-Pamlico sound system.” Environmental Science & Technology 43, no. 20 (October 2009): 7609–13. https://doi.org/10.1021/es900558f.
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  - Lin, J., L. Xie, L. J. Pietrafesa, J. S. Ramus, and H. W. Paerl. “Water quality gradients across Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system: Seasonal variations and model applications.” Journal of Coastal Research 23, no. 1 (January 1, 2007): 213–29. https://doi.org/10.2112/05-0507.1.
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  - Paerl, H. W., L. M. Valdes, A. R. Joyner, B. L. Peierls, M. F. Piehler, S. R. Riggs, R. R. Christian, et al. “Ecological response to hurricane events in the Pamlico Sound system, North Carolina, and implications for assessment and management in a regime of increased frequency.” Estuaries and Coasts 29, no. 6 (January 1, 2006): 1033–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02798666.
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  - Buzzelli, C. P., J. Ramus, and H. W. Paerl. “Ferry-based monitoring of surface water quality in North Carolina estuaries.” Estuaries 26, no. 4 A (2003): 975–84.
  - Ramus, J., L. A. Eby, C. M. McClellan, and L. B. Crowder. “Phytoplankton Forcing by a Record Freshwater Discharge Event into a Large Lagoonal Estuary.” Estuaries 26, no. 5 (2003): 1344–52.
  - Litaker, R. W., P. A. Tester, C. S. Duke, B. E. Kenney, J. L. Pinckney, and J. Ramus. “Seasonal niche strategy of the bloom-forming dinoflagellate Heterocapsa triquetra.” Marine Ecology Progress Series 232 (2002): 45–62.
  - Litaker, R. W., V. E. Warner, C. Rhyne, C. S. Duke, B. E. Kenney, J. Ramus, and P. A. Tester. “Effect of diel and interday variations in light on the cell division pattern and in situ growth rates of the bloom-forming dinoflagellate Heterocapsa triquetra.” Marine Ecology Progress Series 232 (2002): 63–74.
  - Paerl, H. W., J. D. Bales, L. W. Ausley, C. P. Buzzelli, L. B. Crowder, L. A. Eby, J. M. Fear, et al. “Ecosystem impacts of three sequential hurricanes (Dennis, Floyd, and Irene) on the United States' largest lagoonal estuary, Pamlico Sound, NC.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 98, no. 10 (May 2001): 5655–60. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.101097398.
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  - Litaker, W., C. S. Duke, B. E. Kenney, and J. Ramus. “Short-term environmental variability and phytoplankton abundance in a shallow tidal estuary. II. Spring and fall.” Marine Ecology Progress Series 94, no. 2 (1993): 141–54.
  - Osmond, C. B., J. Ramus, G. Levavasseur, L. A. Franklin, and W. J. Henley. “Fluorescence quenching during photosynthesis and photoinhibition of Ulva rotundata blid.” Planta 190, no. 1 (1993): 97–106. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195680.
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  - Franklin, L. A., G. Levavasseur, C. B. Osmond, W. J. Henley, and J. Ramus. “Two components of onset and recovery during photoinhibition of Ulva rotundata.” Planta 186, no. 3 (1992): 399–408. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195321.
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  - Henley, W. J., S. T. Lindley, G. Levavasseur, C. B. Osmond, and J. Ramus. “Photosynthetic response of Ulva rotundata to light and temperature during emersion on an intertidal sand flat.” Oecologia 89, no. 4 (1992): 516–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317158.
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  - Peckol, P., and J. Ramus. “Photosynthetic performance of deep-water macroalgae (Phaeophyta, Dictyotales) off Bermuda.” Hydrobiologia 231, no. 2 (1992): 93–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006501.
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  - Henley, W. J., G. Levavasseur, L. A. Franklin, C. B. Osmond, and J. Ramus. “Photoacclimation and photoinhibition in Ulva rotundata as influenced by nitrogen availability.” Planta 184, no. 2 (1991): 235–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00197952.
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  - Henley, W. J., G. Levavasseur, L. A. Franklin, S. T. Lindley, J. Ramus, and C. B. Osmond. “Diurnal responses of photosynthesis and fluorescence in Ulva rotundata acclimated to sun and shade in outdoor culture.” Marine Ecology Progress Series 75, no. 1 (1991): 19–28.
  - Ramus, J. “A form-function analysis of photon capture for seaweeds.” Hydrobiologia 204–205, no. 1 (1990): 65–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00040216.
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  - Duke, C. S., W. Litaker, and J. Ramus. “Effects of temperature, nitrogen supply, and tissue nitrogen on ammonium uptake rates of the chlorophyte seaweeds Ulva curvata and Codium decorticatum.” Journal of Phycology 25, no. 1 (1989): 113–20.
  - Duke, C. S., W. Litaker, and J. Ramus. “Effect of temperature on nitrogen-limited growth rate and chemical composition of Ulva curvata (Ulvales: Chlorophyta).” Marine Biology 100, no. 2 (1989): 143–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391953.
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  - Henley, W. J., and J. Ramus. “Photoacclimation of Ulva rotundata (Chlorophyta) under natural irradiance.” Marine Biology 103, no. 2 (1989): 261–66. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00543356.
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  - Henley, W. J., and J. Ramus. “Optimization of pigment content and the limits of photoacclimation for Ulva rotundata (Chlorophyta).” Marine Biology 103, no. 2 (1989): 267–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00543357.
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  - Ramus, J., and B. E. Kenney. “Shear degradation as a probe of microalgal exopolymer structure and rheological properties.” Biotechnology and Bioengineering 34, no. 9 (1989): 1203–8.
  - Kenney, B. E., W. Litaker, C. S. Duke, and J. Ramus. “Community oxygen metabolism in a shallow tidal estuary.” Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 27, no. 1 (1988): 33–43.
  - Peckol, P., and J. Ramus. “Abundances and physiological properties of deep-water seaweeds from Carolina outer continental shelf.” Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 115, no. 1 (1988): 25–39.
  - Duke, C. S., R. W. Litaker, and J. Ramus. “Seasonal variation in RuBPcase activity and N allocation in the chlorophyte seaweeds ulva curvata (kutz.) de toni and Codium decorticatum (Woodw.) Howe.” Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 112, no. 2 (1987): 145–64.
  - Litaker, W., C. S. Duke, B. E. Kenney, and J. Ramus. “Short-term environmental variability and phytoplankton abundance in a shallow tidal estuary - I. Winter and summer.” Marine Biology 96, no. 1 (1987): 115–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394844.
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  - Rosenberg, G., and J. Ramus. “Uptake of inorganic nitrogen and seaweed surface area: Volume ratios.” Aquatic Botany 19, no. 1–2 (1984): 65–72.
  - Rosenberg, C., and J. Ramus. “Ecological growth strategies in the seaweeds Gracilaria foliifera (Rhodophyceae) and Ulva sp. (Chlorophyceae): Soluble nitrogen and reserve carbohydrates.” Marine Biology 66, no. 3 (1982): 251–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397030.
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  - Ramus, J., and G. Rosenberg. “Diurnal photosynthetic performance of seaweeds measured under natural conditions.” Marine Biology 56, no. 1 (1980): 21–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390590.
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  - Ramus, J., F. Lemons, and C. Zimmerman. “Adaptation of light-harvesting pigments to downwelling light and the consequent photosynthetic performance of the eulittoral rockweeds Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus.” Marine Biology 42, no. 4 (1977): 293–303. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402191.
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  - Ramus, J., S. I. Beale, D. Mauzerall, and K. L. Howard. “Changes in photosynthetic pigment concentration in seaweeds as a function of water depth.” Marine Biology 37, no. 3 (1976): 223–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387607.
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  - Ramus, J., S. I. Beale, and D. Mauzerall. “Correlation of changes in pigment content with photosynthetic capacity of seaweeds as a function of water depth.” Marine Biology 37, no. 3 (1976): 231–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387608.
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  - Wassman, E. R., and J. Ramus. “Primary-Production measurements for the green seaweed Codium fragile in long island sound.” Marine Biology 21, no. 4 (1973): 289–97. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381085.
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  - Ramus, J., and S. T. Groves. “Incorporation of sulfate into the capsular polysaccharide of the red alga Porphyridium.” Journal of Cell Biology 54, no. 2 (1972): 399–407.
  - Howland, G. P., and J. Ramus. “Analysis of blue-green and red algal ribosomal-RNAs by gel electrophoresis.” Archiv Für Mikrobiologie 76, no. 4 (1971): 292–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408526.
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  - Ramus, J. “Dimorphic pit connections in red alga Pseudogloiophloea.” Journal of Cell Biology 41, no. 1 (1969): 340–45.

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

Global Scholarship

Research

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles