Aquatic Ecology & Evolution

Abstract of talk by Prof. Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan

In this talk I will provide an overview of the highlights of my research in the field of palaeobiology. Through case studies I will show how osteohistology has provided insights into various aspects of the biology the nonmammalian therapsids, dinosaurs (including birds), as well as some highly derived recently extinct birds. Using bone histology we have been able to unravel how sauropods grew to gigantic proportions, how dinosaurs were affected by disease, and how growth patterns of birds evolved. I will also give you a glimpse into the current research in my lab that examines a wide spectrum of vertebrate ecological adaptations, ontogenetic growth, as well as skeletal diseases.