OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya"

Browsing by Author "Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya"

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Open Access
Analysis of dental pathologies in the Pliocene herbivores of Langebaanweg and their palaeoenvironmental implications
(2002) Franz-Odendaal, Tamara; Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya; Lee-Thorp, Julia
This study evaluates the extent of dental pathologies in several ungulate species from the Pelletal Phosphate Member (PPM) at Langebaanweg, and uses this analysis, along with stable isotope analyses, to obtain fresh insight into the local palaeoenvironment during the Early Pliocene.
Open Access
Cold case files : palaeoforensic and taphonomic study of the Mamafura dicynodont from the end permian
(2010) Fordyce, Nicholas; Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya; Smith, Roger
Dicynodonts were non-mammalian herbivorous therapsids (mammal-like reptiles) that flourished world-wide during the Permian and Triassic Periods. They are nowhere more abundant than in the rock strata of the Karoo basin in South Afiica. Taphonomy, the transition from biosphere to lithosphere, is of great geological and biological significance and has provided remarkable insight into palaeoenvironments. A partially articulated dicynodont that has been fossilised alongside an unidentified predator tooth shows evidence of predation and is analysed here. The dicynodont is possibly Oudenodon grandis and was most likely drowned after which it was scavenged from by a gorgonopsian predator, Aelurognathus. The fossil is important as it provides further insight into the ecology of the Late Permian and it enhances our taphonomic understanding.
Open Access
Comparison of the long bone microstructure of two southern African marine birds, the Cape gannet (Morus capensis) and the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) with respect to their aquatic adaptations
(2013) Dabee, Vidushi Prema; Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya; Canoville, Aurore
The Cape gannet (Morus capensis) and the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) have distinct aquatic adaptations for locomotion. The gannet, which is an efficient flying bird, uses both fore- and hind limbs to propel itself under water. On the other hand, the flightless penguin swims underwater using only its forelimbs. In this study, the long bones of ten penguins and nine gannets were compared in terms of microanatomy and histology with respect to ontogenetic stage (hatchlings, juveniles and adults) and locomotion. Micronatomical and histological findings of the fore-limbs and hind limbs show that the bone microstructure of the gannets and the penguins differs significantly in term of compactness and bone remodelling. Penguin bones are more thick-walled and compact as compared to gannet bones and their cortical tissue is dominated by simple vascular canals whilst the medullary cavity is nearly absent. The forelimb bones of penguins are more compact that the hind limb bones. This is due to the aquatic adaptation of the bone to fore-limb underwater propulsion. On the other hand, the gannet bones are thin walled, less compact with primary osteons dominating the mid-cortex, and a large vacant medullary cavity is present. The gannet fore- and hind limb bones do not differ in terms of bone compactness. Ontogenetic differences in the penguin long bones show that the hatchling bears an active growth phase. Some of the bones of the juvenile penguins are still actively growing whilst the adult ones appear to have stopped growing as the bone mid-cortex is more organized. For the gannet species, the juvenile and adult differs in terms of the presence and thickness of the inner and outer circumferential layers and the presence of circumferential vascularizations. Intra-specific differences are noted in the juvenile penguins with one specimen still undergoing active growth depicted by the presence of numerous simple vascular canals. Amongst the adult penguins, one male specimen is actively molting as indicated by the presence of large resorption cavities in all of the long bones. One adult gannet individual possesses large resorption cavities in all its long bones as a result of starvation caused by perforation of its intestines. Inter-skeletal differences are noted with the stylopod and zeugopod being the most affected by sub-aquatic locomotion with osteosclerosis occurring the most in the proximal bone and decreases in the distal bones going from the pectoral to the pelvic bones in the African penguin. In the Cape gannet, the stylopod and ulna have micro-structural features for torsional resistance during flight.
Open Access
Comprehensive description of a skeleton of Endothiodon Bathystoma (Anomodontia, Therapsida), a dicynodont from the Late Permian of the Karoo Basin of South Africa
(2018) Maharaj, Iyra Esmen Maeve; Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya; Smith, Roger M H
The dicynodonts are an extinct group of herbivorous non-mammalian synapsids that were fairly abundant in Gondwanan deposits of the middle Permian to the Early Triassic periods. The extinct genus Endothiodon was first described by Sir Richard Owen in 1876, and is well known from the late Permian deposits of the Karoo Basin of South Africa. It is characterized by rows of internal teeth on the premaxilla and dentary arranged in replacement waves called Zahnreihen; longitudinal ridges running from the premaxilla to the pineal crest; and a prominent pineal boss with a pineal foramen. Endothiodon is well-represented by cranial and postcranial material in the Karoo vertebrate collections at various museums in South Africa. The repeated taxonomic revision of this genus over the years has led to much confusion about what constitutes the type species, E. bathystoma. Recently, an almost complete skeleton of Endothiodon (SAM-PK-K011271) was recovered from the uppermost Pristerognathus Assemblage Zone of the Karoo Supergroup. The fossil comprises the skull and most of its postcranial elements preserved in articulation. The current study provides a comprehensive description of the anatomy of this specimen, which permitted its identification as E. bathystoma. Furthermore, by comparison with other South African Endothiodon specimens this study determined that this specimen is the second largest E. bathystoma specimen known to date. The well-preserved skull and postcranial skeleton of SAM-PK-K011271 makes it an ideal reference specimen for E. bathystoma and has permitted a good assessment of its overall anatomy. The findings of this study provide a perfect stepping-stone for future studies to further address E. bathystoma’s skeletal reconstruction and biomechanical functions, as well as other aspects of the palaeobiology of this animal.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 1 - An abundance of bacteria
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya; Rybicki, Ed
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan interviews Professor Ed Rybicki, a microbiologist based in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UCT. They discuss the history and diversity of microbes on earth and how they played a key role in the development of oxygen in the atmosphere. Professor Rybicki also outlines how essential microbes are for our survival, as they help us to digest food, produce vitamins, and fight off disease.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 1 - From simple to complex
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan uses several examples to explain how life on Earth has evolved over billions of years from simple unicellular organisms to the complex multicellular lifeforms that we see today. She makes the point that there is clear evidence of the evolution and diversification of organisms by looking at fossils from different time periods from all over the world.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 1 - Importance of knowing the past
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan reflects on the information presented in previous videos. She highlights points about the immense age of the Earth, the historical and continued success of microbes, as well as the evidence of increasing complexity over time through examining the fossil record. This is video 7 in Week 1 of the Extinctions: Past and Present MOOC.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 1 - In the beginning
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Professor Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan discusses the early geological record in terms of rock and fossil formation. She discusses how fossilisation occurs in plants and animals, and how the fossil record only records a portion of all the lifeforms that have existed on earth. She discusses how scientists can use the fossil record to explore the history of life on earth and trace current biodiversity to what existed in the past. She then discusses the different epochs or eras in the development of life from the earliest forms of life, to the emergence of multicellular organisms, to the emergence of life on land. This is video 3 in Week 1 of the Extinctions: Past and Present MOOC.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 1 - Life on earth
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan discusses the history of life on earth. She begins by discussing the earliest evidence of life, which dates back to about 3.5 billion years ago. She then goes on to discuss the evolution of complex multicellular life, the Cambrian explosion, and the movement of plants and animals onto land. She also discusses some of the unanswered questions about the history of life, such as the cause of the Cambrian explosion.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 1 - The five big extinction events
(2017-02-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Anusaya discussed the background extinction rate on earth and provides an overview of the five major extinction events (the Big Five). She also describes the common features of these major extinction events. This is video 2 in Week 1 of the Extinctions: Past and Present MOOC.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 1 - Welcome and introductions
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, UCT paleobiologist Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan introduces herself, provides context around the topic of extinctions and the fossil record, and outlines the content of the course. This is video 1 in Week 1 of the Extinctions: Past and Present MOOC.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 2 - A fossil ecosystem
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya; Guess, Rob
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan interviews paleontologist Dr Rob Gess about the Devonian fossil site called Waterloo Farm in Grahamstown, South Africa. He discusses the unique nature of the site given how it contains rare fossils with soft tissue preserved and he goes on to describe several interesting examples of these fossils.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 2 - Setting the stage for the diversity of life
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan outlines the topic of two major extinction events that will be discussed in subsequent videos: the end of the Ordovician and the end of the Devonian. She introduces Tetsuto Miyashita who will talk about the diversification of early vertebrates and the origin of jawed fishes. She then introduces Rob Guess who talk talk about the diversity of fossils present in a locality in South Africa.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 2 - The effect of extinctions
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan reflects on the first and second mass extinction events that were discussed in previous videos. She discusses the topics covered in the previous week of the MOOC, specifically around the radiation of tetrapods and the development of bony fishes. She reflects on some of the specific effects these events had and introduces the topic of the End Permian extinction to be discussed in subsequent videos. This is video 6 in Week 2 of the Extinctions: Past and Present MOOC.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 2 - The End Devonian extinction event
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan discusses the end-Devonian extinction event, which wiped out about 87% of all marine species. She explores the possible causes of this extinction, focusing on the theory of how the expansion of forests played a role. This is video 3 in Week 2 of the Extinctions: Past and Present MOOC.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 2 - The rise of tetrapods
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan introduces the topic of tetrapod radiation in the wider context of vertebrate radiation which began 500 million years ago. She describes the distinct evolutionary characteristics of tetrapods and the path of their development from bony fishes.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 3 - A crisis before the end of the Permian
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya; Day, Michael
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan interviews Dr Michael Day about the reptilian fauna of the Permian and how South Africa is well-known for fossils from this time period. He talks about the Guadalupian extinction event and how it was mainly affected by the very large terrestrial biota of the time.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 3 - Before and after the End Permian Extinction Event
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan introduces the topic of the End Permian extinction which took place 252 million years ago and was the third and largest mass extinction event. She introduces postdoctoral researcher Michael Day who will discuss the Guadalupian extinction. She then introduces palaeontologist/geologist Roger Smith about the extraordinary mammal-like reptiles from South Africa. Finally, she introduces paleobotanist John Anderson about his research into the plant and insect biodiversity that spans the Permian-Triassic boundary.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 3 - Bringing life to its knees
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan explores the development of reptiles and dinosaurs and how they laid the ground for the future development of birds and mammals. She then explores important details about the third mass extinction event. She focuses on the loss of biodiversity and the recovery period that followed while exploring several hypotheses for why this extinction event occurred. This is video 2 in Week 3 of the Extinctions: Past and Present MOOC.
Open Access
Extinctions: Past and Present Week 3 - Lessons from the past
(2017-03-17) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya
In this video, Professor Anusaya Chinsamy-Turan reflects on the content presented in previous videos about the End Permian extinction event. She notes how this event had significant influence on the development of life, and in determing which species survived and diversified. She introduces the topic of subsequent videos: the End Trassic and the End Cretaceous extinction events.