Research Interests

My research program in evolutionary morphology focuses on the biomechanics of the head, with special emphasis on the feeding apparatus. The feeding research seeks to document in vivo functioning of the feeding system using bone strain, electromyographic, videofluoroscopic and optico-kinematic techniques. These data are used to test hypotheses regarding the functional significance of variation in the morphology of the feeding system, as well as other systems in the skull. I am currently investigating the scaling of safety factors and temporal variables in feeding kinematics and kinetics in primates to determine whether common principles apply to the locomotor and feeding systems. This includes questions regarding the modulation of motor activity during chewing and swallowing, performance costs, and common principles governing scaling of the skeletal system. My future research will expand this to studies of a wider range of vertebrate species.

I am currently initiating a collaborative research program on the ontogeny of alligator feeding. This research will document ontogenetic scaling in kinematic, bone strain, muscle architecture, and electromyographic variables, along with data on material properties from the bones and sutures of the mandible.

I am also involved in a collaborative research project with a number of physical anthropologists to develop finite-element models of primate skulls and use them to test hypotheses regarding the functional determinants of skull form. This will include analyses of fossil hominids.

I am interested in advising students interested in questions regarding feeding biomechanics in terrestrial vertebrates.

Selected Publications

Ross, C. F., Reed, D. A., Washington, R. L., Eckhardt, A., Anapol, F.,
Shahnoor, N. (2009) Scaling of chew cycle duration in Primates.
/American Journal of Physical Anthropology/ 138: 30-44.

Ross, C. F., Washington, R. L., Eckhardt, A., Reed, D. A., Vogel, E.,
Dominy, N., Machanda, Z. (2009) Ecological consequences of scaling of
chew cycle duration and daily feeding time in Primates. /Journal of
Human Evolution/ 56: 570-585.

Strait, D.S., Weber, G.W., Neubauer, S., Chalk, J., Richmond, B.G.,
Lucas, P.W., Spencer, M.A., Schrein, C., Dechow, P.C., Ross, C.F.,
Grosse, I., Wright, B.W., Constantino, P., Wood, B.A., Lawn, B.,
Hylander, W.L., Wang, Q., Byron, C., Slice, D.E., Smith, A.L. (2009).
The feeding biomechanics and dietary ecology of /Australopithecus
africanus/. /Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences/ 106(7):
2124-2129.

Forster, C. Farke, A. McCartney, J. de Klerk, W. Ross, C. F. (2009) A
“Basal” (non-avetheropod) tetanuran from the Lower Cretaceous Kirkwood
Formation of South Africa. /Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology/ 29: 283-285.

Ross C.F. and Martin, R.D. (2009) The role of vision in the origin and
evolution of primates. In /Evolutionary Neuroscience/. Jon Kaas (eds).
New York: Academic Press, pp. 819-838. (reprint of Ross & Martin, 2006).

Ross, C.F. (2008) Does the primate face torque? Vinyard C.J., Ravosa
M.J. and Wall C.E., editors. /Primate Craniofacial Function and
Biology/. Springer: New York, pp. 63-81.

Strait, D.S., Wright, B.W., Richmond, B.G., Ross, C.F., Dechow, P.C.,
Spencer, M.A., Wang, Q. (2008). Craniofacial strain patterns during
premolar loading: Implications for human evolution. In: Vinyard C.J.,
Ravosa M.J. and Wall C.E., editors. /Primate Craniofacial Function and
Biology/. Springer: New York, pp. 149-172.

Wang, Q., Dechow, P.C., Wright, B.W., Ross, C.F., Strait, D.S.,
Richmond, B.G., Spencer, M.A. (2008) Surface strain on bone and sutures
in a monkey facial skeleton: an in vitro method and its relevance to
Finite Element Analysis. In: Vinyard C.J., Ravosa M.J. and Wall C.E.,
editors. /Primate Craniofacial Function and Biology/. Springer: New
York, pp. 173-198.

Herrel, A., Schaerlaeken, V., Ross, C.F. Meyers, J.J., Nishikawa, K.,
and Aerts, P. (2008) Electromyography and the evolution of motor
control: limitations and insights. /Integrative and Comparative
Biology/. 48 (2): 261-271.

Schaerlaeken, V., Herrel, A., Aerts, P., Ross, C.F. (2008) The
functional significance of the lower temporal bar in /Sphenodon
punctatus/. /Journal of Experimental Biology/ 211: 3908-3914.

Available publications can be downloaded at http://rosslab.uchicago.edu/publications.html

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