Graduate Students

 Keegan Selig, MA, PhD candidate

My research includes the use of topographic methods to the study of dental morphology. In combination with micro-CT data, I am using these methods to explore questions of diet, evolution, and variability in fossil and living primates and closely related euarchontans such as treeshrews and dermopterans. My research also involves the examination of the enamel-dentine junction, the surface underlying the enamel in a tooth. In using a combination of topographic methods, I am able to contextualize the development of the Euarchonta by examining this underlying surface.

Publications:

• Selig K. R., E. J. Sargis, M. T. Silcox. 2019. The frugivorous insectivores? An analysis of molar topography in extant treeshrews (Scandentia) for inferring patterns of diet and functional morphology. Journal of Mammalogy. DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz155.
• Selig K. R., S. López-Torres, A. Hartstone-Rose, L. T. Nash, A. M. Burrows, M. T. Silcox. 2019. A novel method for assessing enamel thickness distribution in the anterior dentition as a signal for gouging and other extractive foraging behaviors in gummivorous mammals. Folia Primatologica. DOI: 10.1159/000502819.
• Selig K. R., E. J. Sargis, M. T. Silcox. 2019. Three-Dimensional Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Treeshrew (Scandentia) Lower Molars: Insight into dental variation and systematics. The Anatomical Record. 302: 1154–1168.
• Burrows A. M., L. T. Nash, A. Hartstone-Rose, M. T. Silcox, S. López-Torres, K. R. Selig. 2019. Dental signatures for exudativory in living Primates, with comparisons to other gouging mammals. The Anatomical Record. doi: 10.1002/ar.24048.
• Selig K. R., S. López-Torres, E.J. Sargis, M.T. Silcox. 2019. First 3D dental topographic analysis of the enamel-dentine junction in non-primate euarchontans: Contribution of the enamel-dentine junction to molar morphology. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 26: 587–598.
• López-Torres S., K.R. Selig, K.A. Prufrock, M.T. Silcox. 2018. Dental topographic analysis of paromomyid (Plesiadapiformes, Primates) cheek teeth: More than 15 million years of changing surfaces and shifting ecologies. Historical Biology 30:76–88.
• López-Torres S., K.R. Selig, A.M. Burrows, M.T. Silcox. In Press. The toothcomb of Karanisia clarki – Was this species an exudate-feeder? In: Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation of Lorises and Pottos (K.A.I. Nekaris and A.M. Burrows, Eds.). Cambridge University Press.
• Burrows A.M., L. T. Nash, A. Hartstone-Rose, K. R. Selig, M. T. Silcox, S. López-Torres. In Press. Gum-feeding in the evolution of the lorises. In: Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation of Lorises and Pottos (K.A.I. Nekaris and A.M. Burrows, Eds.). Cambridge University Press.

Presentations and Published Abstracts:

• Selig K. R., W. Khalid, M. T. Silcox. 2019. Complexity of the lower molar row is explained by the inhibitory cascade model and diet within Euarchonta. Podium presentation given at the 2019 Society of Vertebrate Paleontologists meeting, Brisbane, Australia.
• Selig K. R., M. S. Ramsay, M. T. Silcox. 2019. Investigating variation in euarchontan dental topography as a signal of dietary breadth. Podium presentation given at the 2019 American Association of Physical Anthropologists meeting, Cleveland, OH.
• Burrows A. M., A. Hartstone-Rose, L. T. Nash, M. T. Silcox, K. R. Selig, S. López-Torres. 2019. Disappearing enamel and molars – the evolution of a dietary niche focused on gums. Poster presentation given at the 2019 American Association of Anatomists meeting, Orlando, FL.
• Burrows A. M., A. Hartstone-Rose, L. T. Nash, M.T. Silcox, K. R. Selig, S. López-Torres. 2019. The uncertainty of the potto and exudate-feeding in Lorisidae. Podium presentation given at the 2019 American Association of Physical Anthropologists meeting, Cleveland, OH.
• Selig K. R., M. T. Silcox. 2018. Using Three-Dimensional Dental Topographic Analysis to Examine Dietary Change in an Early Group of Eocene Primates; the Microsyopine Microsyopids. Invited Podium Presentation at the 2018 Canadian Association for Physical Anthropology, London ON.
• Selig K. R., E. J. Sargis, S. B. G. Chester, M. T. Silcox. 2018. Three-Dimensional Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Treeshrew Lower Molars: dental morphology of the extinct Prodendrogale yunnanica (Scandentia, Tupaiidae). Poster presentation at the Annual Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Meeting, Albuquerque, NM.
• Selig K. R., S. López-Torres, A. Hartstone-Rose, A. M. Burrows, M. T. Silcox. 2018. Differential Enamel Thickness in the Anterior Dentition as a Signal for Gouging Behavior. Poster presentation at the 2018 American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Austin, TX.
• Nagendran L., G. A. San Martin Flores, M. G. I. Atell, O. B. Bertrand, R. Bhagat, M. M. Lang, S. López-Torres, K. R. Selig, D. L. Ward, B. Viola, M. T. Silcox. 2018. New perspectives on cranial form in Euarchontoglires: A geometric morphometric study of primates and their kin. Poster presentation at the 2018 American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Austin, TX.
• Selig K. R., M. T. Silcox. 2017. First analysis of stem primate dental pathology: insight into dietary shifts and the frequency of dental caries. Poster Presentation at the 2017 Canadian Association for Physical Anthropology, Edmonton AB.
• Selig K. R., M. T. Silcox. 2017. Inferring diet in treeshrews (Scandentia) based on dental topographic metrics. Poster presentation at the 2017 Animal Behaviour Society Meeting, Toronto ON.
• Ramsay M. S., K. R. Selig*, M. T. Silcox. 2017. By the scan of our teeth: Using dental topographic analysis to inform behavioral ecology. Poster presentation at the 2017 Animal Behaviour Society Meeting, Toronto ON.
• Selig K. R., M. T. Silcox. 2017. First 3D dental topographic analysis of the enamel-dentine junction in non-primate euarchontans: investigating development, diet, and taxonomy. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 162, Issue supplement S64: 353-354.
• López-Torres S., K. A. Prufrock, K. R. Selig, M. T. Silcox. 2017. Exploring taxonomic and dietary signals in Paromomyidae (Plesiadapiformes, Primates) using 3D dental topographic metrics. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 162, Issue supplement S64: 266-267.
• López-Torres S., K. A. Prufrock, K. R. Selig, M. T. Silcox. 2016. Dental topographic analysis of paromomyid (Plesiadapiformes, Primates) cheek teeth: More than 15 million years of changing surfaces and shifting ecologies. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 2016 Program and Abstracts: 177. Podium presentation at 2016 Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Meetings, Salt Lake City UT.

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Devin Ward, MPhil, PhD candidate

For my doctoral research, I will examine types and causes of morphological variation in the bony labyrinth (inner ear) of modern humans through computed tomography.  This research builds on findings from my MPhil in Biological Anthropological Research at the University of Cambridge (Darwin College), where I examined labyrinth size in two ancient Egyptian and Nubian skeletal samples.

Before moving to Toronto, I worked as a research assistant at the Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, collecting data for Dr. Karen Baab’s analysis of systemic and localized robusticity in hominins.  I am also involved with two ongoing archaeological field projects, one in Gibraltar and one in Italy, where I excavate, document, and examine both human and faunal skeletal remains.  I am involved in a European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency astrobiology project to investigate the impacts of hypergravtiy on biological systems using the Large Diameter Centrifuge.

Publications:

• Ward, D.L., Pomeroy, E., Schroeder, L., Viola, T. B., Silcox, M.T., and Stock, J.T. Can Bony Labyrinth Dimensions Predict Biological Sex in Archaeological Samples? (in review). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
• Baab, K.B., Copes, L.C., Ward, D.L., Wells, N., and Grine, F.E. 2018. Using modern human cortical bone distribution to test the systemic robusticity hypothesis. Journal of Human Evolution 119: 64-82.
• Pomeroy, E., Lane, K., Grant, J., Ward, D., Benady, S., Reinoso del Río, M.C., Gutierrez López, J.M., Mata Alamonte, E., Ramírez León, J., Cobos Rodríguez, L., Finlayson, G., Finlayson, S., and Finlayson, C. (2019) Death in the Sun: The bioarchaeology of an early post-Medieval hospital in Gibraltar. Journal of Post-Medieval Archaeology 52(2): 239-255.
• Ward, D.L. and Lattanzi, G.D. 2015. Collections Mortality and Immortality: A Case Study of Aging Museum Collections through Faunal Analysis from the Pennella Site, Ocean County, NJ. Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology 31: 53-69.
• Ward, D.L. 2014. Something Old, Something New: Analysis of the Faunal Remains from the Middle Woodland Site of Pennella, Ocean County, NJ. Rutgers Science Review 3: 22-30.
• Ward, D.L. and Lattanzi, G.D. 2015. Collections Mortality and Immortality: A Case Study of Aging Museum Collections through Faunal Analysis from the Pennella Site, Ocean County, NJ. Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology 31: 53-69.
• Ward, D.L. 2014. Something Old, Something New: Analysis of the Faunal Remains from the Middle Woodland Site of Pennella, Ocean County, NJ. Rutgers Science Review 3: 22-30.

Presentations and Published Abstracts:

• D.L. Ward, E. Pomeroy, L. Schroeder, J.E. Roy, L.T. Buck, J.T. Stock, M.T. Silcox, T.B. Viola. 2020. Bony Labyrinth Fluctuating Asymmetry does not Reflect Gestational Malnutrition in Rats.  Submitted to the American Association of Physical Anthropology Meetings, Los Angeles, CA; April.
• D.L. Ward, D.M. Bloy, G.D. Farney, T. Franconi, C. Rice. 2020. A Late Roman and Early Medieval Cemetery at the Roman Villa of Vacone. Podium presentation at the American Institute of Archaeology Meetings, Washington D.C.; January 5.
• M.L. Ledger, T.L. Prowse, M. Carroll, D. Ward, C. Rice, K. Killgrove, N. Terrenato, P.D. Mitchell. 2019 Intestinal parasites, sanitation, and hygiene in Roman period Italy. Podium Presentation at the Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology Meetings, Banff, AB; October 25
• D.L. Ward, E. Pomeroy, J.E. Roy, L.T. Buck, J.T. Stock, M.T. Silcox, T.B. Viola. 2019. Bony labyrinth shape variation as a marker of prenatal stress and the maternal environment. American Journal of Physical Anthropology Poster Presentation at American Association of Physical Anthropology Meetings, Cleveland OH, March 25.
• D.L. Ward, Mary T. Silcox, T.B. Viola. 2019. Challenges and Opportunities: Bony Labyrinth Shape Quantification. Podium presentation at the Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology, London, ON; November 1.”
• Ward, D.L., Baab, K.L., Viola, T.B., Silcox, M.T. 2018. Using Unintentional Vault Modification to Evaluate Integration of the Bony Labyrinth and Cranium. American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Austin, TX; April 11th-14th. [AAA-AAPA Anatomy in Anthropology Student Presentation Award]
• Lavania, N, San Martin Flores, G.A., Atell, M.G.I., Bertrand, O.B., Bhagat, R., Lang, M.M., López-torres, S., Selig K.R., Ward D.L, Viola, B., Silcox, M.T. 2018. New Perspectives on Cranial Form in Euarchontoglires: A Geometric Morphometric Study of Primates and Their Kin. 2018. American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Austin, TX; April 11th-14th.
• Ward, D.L., Silcox, M.T., Viola, T.B. Modelling Intraspecific Variation in the Bony Labyrinth: Development, Inheritance, & Stability. European Space Agency Large Diameter Centrifuge Hypergravity Workshop, Noordwijk, Holland: January 25-26th
• Ward, D.L., New Perspectives on Post-Occupational Villa Burials from the Roman Villa di Vacone. MEDUSA: University of Toronto Anthropology Graduate Students’ Union Colloquium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; March 16-17th.
• Ward, D.L., Pomeroy, E., Grant, J., Bendary, S., Finlayson, C., Reinoso del Rio, M.C., Gutierrez Lopez, J.M., and Lane, K. 2017. A Rocky Start: The Conundrum of a Post-Medieval Burial Ground in Gibraltar. American Association of Physical Anthropologists, New Orleans, LA; April 19th-22nd.
• Ward, D.L., Bloy, D.M., Farney, G.D., Franconi, T., and Rice, C. 2017. Post-Occupation Burials at the Villa Romana di Vacone (Lazio, Italy). Archaeological Institute of America Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; January 6-9th.
• Ward, D.L., Rivera, M.B.C., and Saers, J.P.P. 2016. Student-Focused Review: American Association of Physical Anthropologists 2016 Meeting. International Journal of Student Research in Archaeology, 1(2).
• Ward, D.L., Pomeroy, E., and Stock, J.T. Expression of Developmental of Developmental Stress through Regional Fluctuating Asymmetry in the Cranium. Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada; October 25-29th. [Davidson Black Award]
• Ward, D.L., Pomeroy, E., and Stock, J.T. 2016. Insights into Developmental Stress Exposure from the Bony Labyrinth. Biennial Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; April.
• Ward, D.L., Pomeroy, E., and Stock, J.T. 2016.Expression of Developmental of Developmental Stress through Regional Fluctuating Asymmetry in the Cranium. Dr. Kenneth A. Suarez Research Day, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ; April 27th.
• Ward, D.L., Crisfield, M.D., Farney, G.D., and Bloy, D.M. 2014. Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner: Analysis of a Post-Occupation Juvenile Interment in a Roman Villa from Vacone, Italy. Biennial Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Calgary, Canada; April.

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Madlen Lang, MSc, PhD student

I am particularly interested in the evolution of the primate brain and their sensory systems. My research focuses on the scaling trends of the petrosal lobules (structures of the brain associated with visual image stabilization) in living primates, dermopterans, scandentians, rodents, and lagomorphs. My goal is to determine if ecological factors such as diet, locomotor behaviour, and activity pattern play a role in the size of these structures. This research provides a unique opportunity to better understand the brain morphology of early primates.

Publications:

• Bertrand, O.C., Amador‐Mughal, F., Lang, M.M.,  Silcox, M.T. 2018. Virtual endocasts of fossil Sciuroidea: brain size reduction in the evolution of fossoriality. Palaeontology 61: 919-948.
• Bertrand, O.C., Amador-Mughal, F., Lang, M.M., Silcox, M.T. 2018. New Virtual Endocasts of Eocene Ischyromyidae and Their Relevance in Evaluating Neurological Changes Occurring Through Time in Rodentia. Journal of Mammalian Evolution: 1-27.

Presentations and Published Abstracts:

• Lang, M. M., Bertrand, O.C.,  Silcox, M.T. 2018. Scaling Pattern of Euarchontoglires Cerebellar Petrosal Lobules: Impacts of Locomotion and Activity Pattern. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 2018 Program and Abstracts: 164.
• Lang, M. M., Bertrand, O.C., Silcox, M.T. 2018. Scaling patterns of primate paraflocculi: effects of phylogeny and ecology. American Journal of Physical Anthropology Program and Abstracts: 186-187. Poster Presentation at the 2018 American Association of Physical Anthropologists Meeting, Austin, TX.
• Lavania, N., San Martin Flores, G.A., Atell, M.G.I., Bertrand, O.B., Bhagat, R., Lang, M.M., López-torres, S., Selig K.R., Ward D.L, Viola, B., Silcox, M.T. 2018. New perspectives on cranial form in Euarchontoglires: A geometric morphometric study of primates and their kin. American Association of Physical Anthropologists: 186.
• Lang, M.M., Bertrand, O.C., and Silcox, M.T. 2017. Scaling pattern in rodent paraflocculi: impacts of locomotion and activity pattern. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology: 147.
• O.C Bertrand, O.C., F. Amador-Mughal, M. M. Lang, M.T. Silcox. 2017. Virtual endocasts of early Aplodontoidea and Sciuridae: brain evolution and locomotion. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 2017 Program and Abstracts: 80-81.
• Lang, M. M. and Atell, M. I. Biological Anthropology and the Media: Lessons from Recent Controversies in a Changing Media Landscape. Podium Presentation at the 2017 MEDUSA Anthropology Graduate Student Union Conference, Toronto ON.

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Waqqas Khalid, MSc student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Postdoctoral Fellow

Rémi Allemand, PhD

My main research interest focus on the relationship between endocranial anatomy, sensory specializations, and behaviour in vertebrates, with a current focus on non-avian reptiles. During my PhD at the MNHN (Paris), I worked on the endocranial anatomy of two clades of Mesozoic marine reptiles, Plesiosauria (Sauropterygia) and Mosasauroidea (Squamata), in order to highlight the sensory and behavioural adaptations associated to their return to an aquatic lifestyle. During my postdoc at the Silcox lab, I investigate the endocasts in modern squamates (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians) using Geometric Morphometrics to determine what kind of information is carried by the endocast morphology.

Publications:

• Allemand, R., Bardet, N., Houssaye, A., Vincent, P. 2019. Endocranial anatomy of plesiosaurians (Reptilia, Plesiosauria) from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) of Goulmima (Southern Morocco). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 39: e1595636.
• Allemand, R., Bardet, N., Houssaye, A., Vincent, P. 2018. New plesiosaurian specimens (Reptilia, Plesiosauria) from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) of Goulmima (Southern Morocco). Cretaceous Research, 82: 83-98.
• Allemand, R., Boistel, R., Daghfous, G., Blanchet, Z., Cornette, R., Bardet, N., Vincent, P., Houssaye, A. 2017. Comparative morphology of snake (Squamata) endocasts: evidence of phylogenetical and ecological signals. Journal of Anatomy, 231:849-868.
• Vincent, P., Allemand, R., Taylor, P.D., Suan, G., Maxwell, E. 2017. New insights on the systematics, paleoecology and paleobiology of a plesiosaurians with soft tissue preservation from the Toarcian of Holzmaden, Germany. The Science of Nature, 104:51, doi:10.1007/s00114-017-1472-6
• Allemand, R., Bardet, N., Houssaye, A., Vincent, P. 2017. Virtual re-examination of a plesiosaurian specimen (Reptilia, Plesiosauria) from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) of Goulmima (Southern Morocco) thanks to computed tomography. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 37:e1325894.

Presentations and Published Abstracts:

• Allemand, R., Abdul-Sater, J., San Martin-Flores, G., Silcox, M.T. 2019. Endocranial anatomical changes that may accompany the loss of limbs in Squamates. 79th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Brisbane, Australia. (Poster).
• Allemand, R., Vincent, P., Houssaye, A., Bardet, N. July 2018. Endocranial microtomographic study of marine reptiles (Plesiosauria and Mosasauroidea) from the Turonian (Late Cretaceous) of Morocco: palaeobiological implications. 5th International Palaeontological Congress, Paris, France. (Talk)
• Allemand, R., Polcyn, M.J., Vincent, P., Houssaye, A., Bardet, N. August 2017. Endocranial anatomy of Tethysaurus nopcsai, a basal mosasauroid (Reptilia, Squamata) from the lower Turonian (Late Cretaceous) of Goulmima (Southern Morocco). 77th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Calgary, Canada. (Poster).
• Allemand, R., Bardet, N., Houssaye, A., Vincent, P. April 2017. Endocranial anatomy of two Elasmosauridae specimens (Reptilia, Plesiosauria) from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) of Goulmima (Southern Morocco). 8th International Meeting on the Secondary Adaptation of Tetrapods to Life in Water, Berlin, Germany. (Talk).
• Allemand, R., Bardet, N., Houssaye, A., Vincent, P. December 2016. Endocranial anatomy of two Elasmosauridae specimens (Reptilia, Plesiosauria) from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) of Goulmima (Southern Morocco). The Palaeontological Association, Lyon, France. (Poster)
• Allemand, R., Boistel, R., Daghfous, G., Blanchet, Z., Cornette, R., Bardet, N., Vincent, P., Houssaye, A. July 2016. Comparative morphology of snake (Squamata)

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Research Assistant

 

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Undergraduate Work Study Students and Volunteers

Work Study Students: Annie Billings, Ashvika Baskaran

Volunteers: Nadia Lofaro

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lab Alumni

Undergrads:  Farrah Amador Mughal, Samantha Gionfriddo, Shallu Prasher,  Rose Pidgeon, Derrick Lin, Sophia Li, Arvin Persaud, Jamila Norman, Rohail Ahmad.

Lab Assistant: Shayda Spakowski

 

Lavania Nagendran, MSc

I am interested in the paleoecology of the Bighorn Basin at the base of primate radiation. My research involves conducting a complete faunal analysis of the McNeil Quarry. This site will add to our understanding about the paleoecology of this region during the early Eocene, especially in respects to small mammal evolution.

Presentations and Published Abstracts:

• Nagendran, L., San Martin Flores, G.A., Atell, M.G.I., Bertrand, O.C., Bhagat, R., Lang, M.M., López-torres, S., Selig K.R., Ward D.L, Viola, B., Silcox, M.T. New perspectives on cranial form in Euarchontoglires: A geometric morphometric study of primates and their kin. American Journal of Physical Anthropology Program and Abstracts: 152.
• Nagendran, L., Rose, K.D., Chew, A.E., Bown, T., Silcox, M.T. Unusual vertebrate assemblage from the McNeil Quarry of the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming (Willwood Formation, early Eocene, Wasatchian Nalma). Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 2018 Program and Abstracts: 188.
• San Martin Flores, G.A., Nagendran, L., Bertrand, O. C., Silcox, M.T. Geometric Morphometrics on treeshrew cranial endocasts: a comparative analysis of scandentian and plesiadapiform brain shapes. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 2018 Program and Abstracts: 209.

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Raj Bhagat, MSc

My research analyzes the morphology of the semicircular canals and how it relates to agility and locomotion. In particular, I’m using CT data to segment semicircular canals among a diverse group of mammals including primates, flying lemurs, rodents, and tree shrews. I’m interested in how this information can be used in paleontology to reconstruct locomotor behaviour from fossil crania, which frequently retain the semicircular canals.

Presentations and Published Abstracts:

• Bhagat, R. and Silcox, M.T. 2018. Evolution of early euprimate locomotor agility and hearing sensitivity: insights from the inner ear of Cantius sp. (Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, Early Eocene, Wasatchian NALMA). Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
• Bhagat, R. and Silcox, M.T. 2018. Locomotor agility and hearing sensitivity reconstruction from the inner ear of Cantius sp. Interdisciplinary Graduate Research and Discovery Conference, Toronto, ON Canada.Bhagat, R. and Silcox, M.T. 2018. Locomotor agility and hearing sensitivity reconstruction from the inner ear of Cantius sp. Interdisciplinary Graduate Research and Discovery Conference, Toronto, ON Canada.
• Lavania, N., San Martin Flores, G.A., Atell, M.G.I., Bertrand, O.B., Bhagat, R., Lang, M.M., López-torres, S., Selig K.R., Ward D.L, Viola, B., Silcox, M.T. 2018. New perspectives on cranial form in Euarchontoglires: A geometric morphometric study of primates and their kin. American Association of Physical Anthropologists: 186.
• Bhagat, R., Bertrand O.C., and Silcox, M.T. 2017. Locomotor behaviour reconstruction from the semicircular canals of early fossil rodents: insights into major evolutionary transitions from the inner ear. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Calgary, AB, Canada: 81.
• Bhagat, R., Bertrand O.C., and Silcox, M.T. 2017. Semicircular canal measurements and their use in reconstructing locomotor behaviour of fossil rodents. Animal Behavior Society, Toronto ON, Canada: 29.
• Bhagat, R., Bertrand, O.C., Silcox, M.T. 2016. Locomotor reconstructions from semicircular canals in fossil rodents: the evolution of arboreality in squirrels. Canadian Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Mississauga ON, Canada: 11.

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Gabriela San Martin Flores, MSc

My research interest focuses on better understanding primitive primate brain morphology. My project involves segmenting cranial endocasts of treeshrews from high resolution CT scans. Treeshrews are small-bodied mammals that pertain to the order Scandentia, which is the order most closely related to Primates. They are therefore good potential modern analogs to our earliest plausible primate ancestors. By studying and statistically comparing the treeshrew brains, using geometric morphometrics, I aim to better understand the morphology of primitive primate brains.

Presentations and Published Abstracts:

• Nagendran, L., San Martin Flores, G.A., Atell, M.G.I., Bertrand, O.C., Bhagat, R., Lang, M.M., López-torres, S., Selig K.R., Ward D.L, Viola, B., Silcox, M.T. New perspectives on cranial form in Euarchontoglires: A geometric morphometric study of primates and their kin. American Journal of Physical Anthropology Program and Abstracts: 152.
• San Martin Flores, G.A., Nagendran, L., Bertrand, O. C., Silcox, M.T. Geometric Morphometrics on treeshrew cranial endocasts: a comparative analysis of scandentian and plesiadapiform brain shapes. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 2018 Program and Abstracts: 209.
• San Martin Flores, G., Nagendran, L., and Silcox, M. 2018. Insights into the primitive brain of primates: Treeshrew cranial endocasts and geometric morphometrics analysis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology Program and Abstracts: 165.

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Ornella Bertrand, PhD

I’m a vertebrate paleontologist and I study the neurobiology of fossil mammals. My research focuses on how the brain and inner ear of mammals evolved over millions of years. I have mainly worked on the brain of rodents, and more specifically of the squirrel-related clade (i.e., squirrels, mountain beaver and dormice) during my PhD and first postdoc. I’m currently a postdoc at the University of Edinburgh, where I’m working on the neurosensory biology of early placental mammals. In order to study these structures, I use high-resolution X-ray micro computed tomography (CT) to obtain 3D models of the brain (cranial endocast) and inner ear (bony labyrinth). My research aims to answer questions about 1) the relationship between ecological variables and the neurosensory system, 2) whether brain and inner ear characters can be integrated into cladistic analyses to improve our understanding of the relationship between extinct and extant taxa and 3) whether the neurosensory system changes with environmental and biological events such as catastrophic events, competitive exclusion and climate change.

Peer-reviewed publications:

• Bhagat, R., Bertrand, O.C., and Silcox, M.T. In Revision. Evolution of arboreality and fossoriality in squirrels and aplodontid rodents: insights from the semicircular canals of fossil rodents. Journal of Anatomy.
• Bertrand, O.C., Shelley, S.L., Wible, J.R., Williamson, T.E., Holbrook, L.T., Chester, S.G.B., Butler, I.B., and Brusatte, S.L. 2020. Virtual endocranial and inner ear endocasts of the Paleocene ‘condylarth’ Chriacus: New insight into the neurosensory system and evolution of early placental mammals. Journal of Anatomy, 236: 21-49.
• Bertrand, O.C., San Martin Flores, G., and Silcox, M.T. 2019b. Endocranial shape variation in the squirrel-related clade and their fossil relatives using 3D geometric morphometrics: contributions of locomotion and phylogeny to brain shape. Journal of Zoology, 308: 197-211.
• Bertrand, O.C., Amador-Mughal, F., Lang M., and Silcox, M.T. 2019a. New virtual endocasts of Eocene Ischyromyidae and their relevance in evaluating neurological changes occurring through time in Rodentia. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 26, 345-371.
• Bertrand, O.C., Amador-Mughal, F., Lang, M., and Silcox, M.T. 2018. Virtual endocasts of fossil Sciuroidea: Brain size reduction in the evolution of fossoriality. Palaeontology 6: 919-948.
• Bertrand, O.C., Amador-Mughal, F., and Silcox, M.T. 2017. Virtual endocast of the early Oligocene Cedromus wilsoni (Cedromurinae) and brain evolution in squirrels. Journal of Anatomy 230: 128-151.
• Bertrand, O.C., and Silcox, M.T. 2016. First virtual endocasts of a fossil rodent: Ischyromys typus (Ischyromyidae) and brain evolution in rodents. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology e1095762: 1–20.
• Bertrand, O.C., Amador-Mughal, F., and Silcox, M.T. 2016b. Virtual endocasts of Eocene Paramys (Paramyinae): oldest endocranial record for Rodentia and early brain evolution in Euarchontoglires. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 283 (1823): 20152316
• Bertrand, O.C., Schillaci, M.A., and Silcox, M.T. 2016a. Cranial dimensions as estimators of body mass and locomotor habits in extant and fossil rodents. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 36(1): 1–10.
• Bertrand, O.C., Flynn, J.J., Croft, D.A., and Wyss, A.R. 2012. Two new taxa (Caviomorpha, Rodentia) from the early Oligocene Tinguiririca Fauna (Chile). American Museum Novitates 3750: 1–36.

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Sergi López-Torres, PhD

My research interests include the study of early stages of primate evolution, as well as other euarchontogliran groups, such assuch as anagalids, lagomorphs, and rodents. During my doctoral studies at the Silcox Lab, I worked on the description of a new omomyoid primate from Southern California, a phylogenetic analysis of European paromomyid primates, and reconstructing the dietary habits of paromomyids.

Dr. Sergi López Torres is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the American Museum of Natural History and a researcher at the Roman Kozłowski Institute of Paleobiology (Polish Academy of Sciences)

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Amber Walker Bolton, PhD

I completed my MRes in Primatology at Roehampton University in the UK and completed my PhD with the Silcox lab at U of T in 2017. My master’s dissertation explored olfactory sexual signalling and mating success among two groups of wild ring-tailed lemurs. Prior to my master’s degree, my fieldwork experience included one year in Costa Rica studying white-faced capuchin monkeys with Susan Perry, and six months observing lemurs at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar with Josia Razafindramanana. My PhD work explored the relationship between male rank, male-male competition and mating success in four groups of wild ring-tailed lemurs. I enjoy working as a research consultant for those companies that wish to film at Berenty and have participated in the BBC show Monkey Planet, IMAX film Island of Lemurs, and True to Nature series Gangs of Lemur Island. Future research will explore olfactory communication and reproductive success in ring-tailed lemurs.

Publications:

Press release for Walker-Bolton, A, 2011. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-04/afcs-sat040511.php

• Walker‐Bolton, A. D., Parga, J. A. 2017. “Stink flirting” in ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta): Male olfactory displays to females as honest, costly signals. American Journal of Primatology.

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Rachel Rusen, MSc

My research interests are focused around all aspects of evolution of the primate brain, from its form in the earliest primates to the brains of living primates. In particular, I am curious about how small evolutionary changes in brain morphology can lead to more prominent behavioural differences. My research at U of T involves using CT data to build and interpret virtual endocasts of the fossil plesiadapiform Carpolestes simpsoni, the only known plesiadapiform with an opposable hallux.

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Chelsea White, MSc

I am interested in the morphological evolution of primates. In particular, I am fascinated by primate brain evolution.  My interests focus on the use of CT data to develop virtual endocasts of extinct species.  I am interested in examining how evolutionary variations in brain morphology impacted the behaviour of early primate species.

Presentations:

• White, C. L., Bloch, J. I., Silcox, M. T. 2016. Virtual endocast of late Paleocene Niptomomys (Microsyopidae, Primates) and early primate brain evolution. Poster presentation, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Salt Lake City, UT.

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Adam Long, MSc

Since graduating with his Masters, Adam has gone on to work for several consulting archaeology firms across Southern Ontario. He is currently the Senior Archaeologist/Field Director at Parslow Heritage Consultancy Inc., a new, Toronto-based, minority focused CRM firm established in 2018 that provides archaeological and cultural heritage assessments across the Province. When not working he is an avid baker, and lives with his husband and two cats in the GTA.

Publications:

• Long, A.,  J.I. Bloch, M.T. Silcox.  2015. Quantification of neocortical ratios in stem primates.  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 157(3): 363-373.

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Kristen Prufrock, MSc, PhD Candidate

My research takes a biomechanical approach to investigate how diet and the demands of food processing shape the mammalian chewing system, both within an animal’s lifetime and over evolutionary time. I use gross anatomy, muscle fiber architecture, and 3D models generated from microCT scans to explore this relationship.

Kristen Prufrock is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a Lecturer in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences at the University of Missouri.

Publications:

• Paddock, K., Zeigler, L., Harvey, B., Prufrock, K.A., Liptak, J.M., Ficorilli, C. M., Hogg, R.T., Bonar, C. J., Evans, S., Williams., L. Vinyard, C.J., DeLeon, V.B., & Smith, T.D. 2019. Comparative dental anatomy in newborn primates: Cusp mineralization. The Anatomical Record, DOI: 10.1002/ar.24326
• Rose, K.D., Perry, J.M.G., Kumar, K., Prufrock, K.A., Dunn, R. E., Rana, R., and Smith, T. 2018. New fossils from Tadkeshwar Mine (Gujarat, India) increase primate diversity from the early Eocene Cambay Shale. Journal of Human Evolution, 122: 93-107. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.05.006
• Perry, J.M.G., and Prufrock, K.A. Muscle functional morphology in paleobiology – the past, present, and future of “paleomyology”. The Anatomical Record, 301: 538-555. DOI:10.1002/ar.23772.
• Prufrock, K.A., & Perry, J.M.G. 2018. Strepsirrhine diets and the pattern of masticatory muscle development. FASEB Journal, 32: 780.5.
• Perry, J.M.G., Prufrock, K.A., Dutchak, A., and Theodor, J.M. 2018. Primates at the northern edge: update on faunas from the middle Eocene of Saskatchewan. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, S66: 205-206.
• López-Torres S., K.R. Selig, A. Prufrock, D. Lin, M.T. Silcox. 2017. Dental topographic analysis of paromomyid (Plesiadapiformes, Primates) cheek teeth: More than 15 million years of changing surfaces and shifting ecologies. Historical Biology DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2017.1289378.
• Prufrock K.A., Boyer D.M, and Silcox M.T. 2016. The first major primate extinction: an evaluation of paleoecological dynamics of North American stem primates using a homology free measure of tooth shape. American Journal of Physical Anthropology DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22927.
• Prufrock K.A., López-Torres S., Silcox M.T., and Boyer, D.M. 2016. Surfaces and Spaces: methods in the study of dental topography and an application to the question of dietary niche space overlap between North American stem primates and rodents. Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties DOI: 10.1088/2051-672X/4/2/024005.