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Pontzer.jpg Herman Pontzer
Title:Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Degree:PHD, Harvard University
MA, Harvard University
BA, Pennsylvania State University
Dept:Anthropology
Office:McMillan Hall 119
Mailbox: Full Mailing Address
Phone:(314) 935-5292
E-mail:hpontzer@wustl.edu

Courses
Human Energetics and Physiology; The Living Machine: Biomechanics in Terrestrial Animals

Research Interests

Professor Pontzer is interested in linking functional morphology to ecology in mammals, specifically hominoids. How does the musculoskeletal anatomy of an animal reflect its performance, ecological niche, and evolutionary history? His research uses a combined modeling and experimental approach to test hypotheses linking morphology to performance in human and nonhuman primates as well as other terrestrial mammals. Current research focuses primarily on the relationships between limb design, locomotor performance (especially locomotor energetics), and ranging ecology.

Professor Pontzer is also involved in the ongoing excavations in the Lower Paleolithic site of Dmanisi in the Republic of Georgia. Fieldwork there provides an exciting opportunity to apply results from the lab to the fossil record. Dated to 1.8 mya, Dmanisi is a particularly interesting site as it's the earliest evidence of hominids (Homo ergaster) outside of Africa.

Selected Publications:

2006. Pontzer, H., Wrangham, R.W. The ontogeny of ranging in wild chimpanzees. International Journal of Primatology 27:295 - 309.

2005. Pontzer, H., Lieberman, D.E., Momin E., Devlin, M., Polk, J.D., Hallgrimmson, B., Cooper, D.M.L. Trabecular bone in the knee responds with high sensitivity to changes in load orientation. Journal of Experimental Biology 209:57–65.

2005. Pontzer, H. A new model predicting locomotor cost from limb length via force production. Journal of Experimental Biology 208: 1513–1524.

2004. Pontzer, H., Wrangham R.W. Climbing and the daily energy cost of locomotion in wild chimpanzees: Implications for hominoid locomotor evolution. Journal of Human Evolution. 46:315–333.