Professor Emese M. Bordy

Continental sedimentology, Vertebrate ichnology, Palaeo-ecosystems & Palaeozoic-Mesozoic basin evolution

Click here for Emese's full CV

Research

  • Clastic sedimentology (esp. continental deposits) 
  • Continental ichnology
  • Palaeo-ecosystems, stratigraphy and basin evolution 
  • Palaeozoic and Mesozoic in southern Africa

 

Publications

Latest Publications (past 3 years only – click here for other publications)

*denotes postgraduate students or postdoctoral researchers

  1. Bordy, E.M., Lockley, M.G., Rampersadh*, A., Mukaddam*, R., Head*, H. 2022. Life and land engulfed in the late Early Jurassic Karoo lavas of southern Gondwana. Geological Magazine 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756822001169  (open-access article)
  1. Head*, H., Bordy, E.M. 2022. Lake dynamics in an Early Jurassic desert: Evidence from the Clarens Formation in southern Africa. Sedimentology 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.13066   (open-access article)
  1. Lallensack JN, Bordy EM, Lockley MG, Wings O 2022. Relaunching the TY tracksite: tridactyl dinosaur footprints from the Lower Jurassic of southern Africa. Historical Biology https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2022.2117042 (open-access article)
  1. Abrahams* M, Bordy EM, Knoll F, Farlow JO 2022. Theropod tridactyl tracks across the Triassic–Jurassic boundary in southern Africa: Implications for pedal morphology evolution. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10: 925313. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.925313  (open-access article)
  1. Bordy, E.M.; Paiva*, F. 2021. Stratigraphic architecture of the Karoo river channels at the End-Capitanian. Frontiers in Earth Science 8: 521766. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.521766  (open-access article)
  1. Bordy, E.M. 2021. Darting towards Storm Shelter: a minute dinosaur trackway from southern Africa. South African Journal of Science 117 (5/6) https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2021/9145 (open-access article, cover page & editors’ choice)
  1. Bordy, E.M., Haupt*, T., Head*, H.V. 2021. Karoo lava-fed deltas and a petrified forest from the Lower Jurassic of southern Gondwana. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. p.110484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2021.110484
  1. Bordy, E.M.; Sztanó, O.  2021.  Badenian (middle Miocene) continental paleoenvironment in the Nógrád-Novohrad Basin (Central Paratethys): a volcano-sedimentary record from the Páris-patak Valley in Hungary. Földtani Közlöny (Bulletin of the Hungarian Geological Society) 151: 159–178 (open-access article &  cover page) https://doi.org/10.23928/foldt.kozl.2021.151.2.159   Watch its musical version here: https://youtu.be/hUbxiIQJNFk 
  1. Makhubele*, M.H., Bordy, E.M. 2021. Sequence stratigraphy in the Algoa and Gamtoos Basins (South Africa): a shoreline’s journey since the Middle Mesozoic. Geo-Marine Letters. 41:52 (open access article) https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-021-00721-8
  1. Geel*, C.; Bordy, E.M. 2021. Palaeo-environmental and provenance reconstruction of the Lower Permian mudstones (lower Ecca Group) in the main Karoo Basin, South Africa. Journal of African Earth Sciences p.104303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2021.104303
  1. Geel*, C.; Nolte, S.; Bordy, E.M. 2021. Geomechanical properties of the Permian black shales in the southern main Karoo Basin: lessons from compositional and petrophysical studies. South African Journal of Geology 124.3  https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.124.0026
  1. Radermacher, VJ; Fernandez, V; Schachner, ER; Butler, R; Bordy, EM; Naylor Hudgins, M; de Klerk, WJ; Chapelle, KEJ; Choiniere, JN. 2021. A new Heterodontosaurus specimen elucidates the unique ventilatory macroevolution of ornithischian dinosaurs. eLife. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.66036  (open-access article)
  1. Bordy E. M., Abrahams* M., Sharman G. R., Viglietti P. A., Benson R. B. J., McPhee B. W., Barrett P. M., Sciscio* L., Condon D., Mundil R., Rademan* Z., Jinnah Z., Clark J. M., Suarez C. A., Chapelle K. E. J., Choiniere J. N. 2020. A chronostratigraphic framework for the upper Stromberg Group: implications for the Triassic-Jurassic boundary in southern Africa. Earth-Science Reviews 203: 103120.   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103120
  1. Bordy, E.M., Rampersadh*, Abrahams*, M., Lockley, M.G., Head*, H. 2020. Tracking the Pliensbachian–Toarcian Karoo firewalkers: Trackways of quadruped and biped dinosaurs and mammaliaforms. PLoS ONE 15(1): e0226847. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226847 (open-access article)
  1. Bordy, E.M. 2020. Depositional style changes during the Permo-Carboniferous – Early Jurassic evolution of the Central Kalahari Karoo Sub-basin, Botswana. Geology Journal 55:5514–5539.  https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.3751
  1. Muir, R.*, Bordy, E.M., Mundil R., Frei, D. 2020. Recalibrating the breakup history of SW Gondwana: U-Pb radioisotopic age constraints from the southern Cape of South Africa. Gondwana Research 84:  177–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2020.02.011
  1. Viglietti P.A., McPhee B.W., Bordy E.M., Sciscio* L., Barrett P.M., Benson R. B. J., Wills S., Chapelle K. E. J., Dollman K. N., Mdekazi C., Choiniere J. N. 2020. Biostratigraphy of the Massospondylus Assemblage Zone (Stormberg Group, Karoo Supergroup), South Africa. South African Journal of Geology 123 (2), 249–262. https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.123.0018
  1. Viglietti P.A., McPhee B.W., Bordy E.M., Sciscio* L., Barrett P.M., Benson R. B. J., Wills S., Tolchard F., Choiniere J. N. 2020.Biostratigraphy of the Scalenodontoides Assemblage Zone (Stormberg Group, Karoo Supergroup), South Africa. South African Journal of Geology 123 (2), 239–248. https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.123.0017
  1. Abrahams*, M., Sciscio*, L., Reid*, M., Haupt*, T. & Bordy, E.M. 2020. Large tridactyl dinosaur tracks from the Early Jurassic of southern Gondwana - uppermost Elliot Formation, Upper Moyeni, Lesotho. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae 90, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.14241/asgp.2020.0 (open-access article)
  1. Abrahams*, M., Bordy, E. M. & Knoll, F. 2020. Hidden for one hundred years: a diverse theropod ichnoassemblage and tracks preserved in cross-section from the historic Early Jurassic Tsikoane ichnosite (Clarens Formation, northern Lesotho, southern Africa). Historical Biology https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2020.1810681
  1. Sciscio*, L., Bordy, E.M., Head*, H. 2020. A Late Triassic aquatic community: Undichna-like and related swimming traces from a freshwater pond in the lower Elliot Formation of South Africa. Journal of African Earth Sciences https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2020.104026
  1. Mukaddam*, R., Bordy, E.M., Lockley, M.G., Chapelle K.E.J. 2020. Reviving Kalosauropus, an Early Jurassic sauropodomorph track from southern Africa (Lesotho).  Historical Biology  https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2020.1834542

Students

Current
1. Ms Claire Browning, PhD under examination (co-supervised with Prof S Gabbott)

2. Mr Akhil Rampersadh, PhD
3. Mr Riyaad Mukaddam, MSc  
Graduated 
1 Dr Howard Head, PhD 2022 2 Dr Marvel Makhubele, PhD 2021
3 Dr Claire Geel, PhD 2020 4 Dr Miengah Abrahams, PhD 2020
5 Dr Robert Muir, PhD 2019 6 Dr Kenneth Chukwuma, PhD 2017
7 Dr Lara Sciscio, PhD 2016 8 Dr "Spaggs" R I Spaggiari, PhD 2011
9 Ms Tuğçe Akkaş, Msc with distinction 2024 10 Ms Loyce Mpangala, MSc with distinction (co-supervised with Dr M Abrahams) 2023
11 Ms T’Nielle Haupt, Msc 2019 12 Ms Megan Jean Runds, MSc 2018
13 Mr Yambi Dinis, Msc with distinction 2018 14 Ms Bianca Harrison, MSc with distinction (co-supervised with Dr W Taylor) 2018
15 Ms Zandri Rademan, Msc 2018 (co-supervised with Dr R Tucker of SU) 16 Mr Chris van der Linde, MSc 2017
17 Ms Mhairi Reid, Msc 2017 18 Mr Francisco Paiva, MSc with distinction 2016
19 Mr Adam Moodley, Msc 2016 20 Mr Stuart A. Campbell, MSc 2015 (co-supervised with Prof A Goetz of RU)
21 Mr Marvel Makhubele, Msc 2014 22 Mr William Krummeck, MSc 2013
23 Mr Tebogo Segwabe, Msc 2008 24 Ms Emily Hanson, MSc 2007 (co-supervised with Prof J Moore)
25 Ms Nikita Erasmus, BSc honours (co-supervised with Dr G Howarth) 2023 26 Ms Neo Metsing, BSc honours 2023
27 Ms Nkazi Zuma, BSc honours (co-supervised with Dr M Abrahams) 2022 28 Mr Riyaad Mukaddam, BSc honours 2020
29 Ms Maposholi Mokhethi, BSc honours 2017 30 Mr Akhil Rampersadh, BSc honours 2017
31 Mr Lunga Mapekula, BSc honours (co-supervised with Dr L Sciscio) 2016 32 Ms T’Nielle Haupt, BSc honours (co-supervised with Dr L Sciscio) 2016
33 Ms Mieng Abrahams, BSc honours 2015 34 Mr Travis America, BSc honours 2015
35 Ms Bianca Harrison, BSc honours (co-supervised with Dr W Taylor) 2015 36 Ms Jani Van Gen, BSc honours (co-supervised with Dr R Tucker of SU) 2015
37 Mr Adrian Peter Bunge, BSc honours 2014 38 Ms Antonia Reis De Carvalho, BSc honours 2014
39 Mr Robert Muir, BSc honours (co-supervised with Dr R Prevec) 2014 40 Ms Buhle Donga, BSc honours (co-supervised with Dr L Greyling) 2014
41 Ms Mhairi Reid, BSc honours (co-supervised with Dr W Taylor) 2014 42 Mr Devon Bowen, BSc honours 2013
43 Ms Chelsea Rebelo, BSc honours 2013 44 Mr Francisco Paiva, BSc honours (co-supervised with Dr Ake Fagereng) 2013
45 Mr Tobi Mzobe, BSc honours (co-supervised with Dr Ake Fagereng) 2013 46 Mr Travis Smithard, BSc honours (co-supervised with Prof David Reid) 2013
47 Ms Megan Jean Runds, BSc honours 2012 48 Mr Howard Head, BSc honours 2012
49 Mr William Krummeck, BSc honours 2010 50 Ms Nelao Udjombala, BSc honours 2010
51 Ms Gwyn Buchanan, BSc honours 2009 52 Ms Katie Baker, BSc honours 2008
53 Mr Bonno Makuke, BSc honours 2008 54 Ms Wony Martin, BSc honours 2008
55 Ms Taleni Mbako, BSc honours 2006 56 Mr Jonathan Robbeson, BSc honours 2005

 

Biography

Click here for Emese's full CV

Degrees

  • PhD, Rhodes University, South Africa, 2001
  • PGD in Higher Education (with distinction), Rhodes University, South Africa, 2006
  • MSc, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary, 1998

Scholarships, Fellowships and Sponsorships Awarded

  • UCT Science Faculty Established Teacher Award: 2021

  • Outstanding Article Award from the South African Journal of Science: 2021

  • Merit award of the Faculty of Science: 2017
  • NRF - Competitive Program for Rated Researchers:  2012, 2015, 2018
  • NRF-DST Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences: 2014-2021
  • NRF - African Origins Platform: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016
  • NRF Incentive Funding for Rated Scientists: since 2009
  • University of Cape Town, Faculty of Science (various grants): 2013, 2014
  • University of Cape Town Research Council: 2011
  • Rhodes University, Deputy VC (Research and Development) and Dean of Science discretionary grants: 2010
  • NRF South African-Hungarian Science and Technology Cooperation: 2007, 2008
  • Rhodes University, Joint Research Committee: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
  • NRF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: 01-01-2002 - 29-02-2004
  • De Beers Doctoral Scholarship (fully funded): 1998, 1999, 2000
  • Scholarship of the Hungarian Republic: 1995, 1996
  • TEMPUS Scholarship (visiting student at the University of Reading, Postgraduate Research  Institute for Sedimentology, UK); 1996-97
  • CEPUS Scholarship (visiting student at the Jagellonian University of Krakow, Poland); 1995