Steve Ross, M.A.
Supervisor of Behavioral and Cognitive Research
Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes

Steve Ross received his B.S. in zoology from the University of Guelph in his native Canada in 1993 and completed a master's from the University of Chicago in 2003. He has researched and published on a number of topics across of variety of taxa, including domestic pigs, free-ranging monkeys, wild dogs, lemurs, polar bears and small-clawed otters. 

Ross joined Lincoln Park Zoo in 2000 as a research specialist and coordinated the research study evaluating the former Lester E. Fisher Great Ape House in preparation for the building of the new ape facility. Results from this project played a major role in the design and development of the Regenstein Center for African Apes. Ross now coordinates the behavioral and cognitive programs of the zoo’s Lester E. Fisher Center for the Conservation of Apes and conducts research in cognitive psychology and applied animal behavior. He is also chair of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan (SSP) which helps manage the population of 300 chimpanzees living in accredited zoos across North America.

Publications

Ross, S.R., Lukas, K.E., Lonsdorf, E.V., Stoinski, T.S., Hare, B., Shumaker, R. and Goodall, J.  2008.  Inappropriate Use and Portrayal of Chimpanzees.  Science, 319: 1487.  

Wagner, K. and Ross, S.R.  2008.  Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) birth patterns and human presence in zoological settings.  American Journal of Primatology, 70: 1-4.  

Halloran, A.R., Broadfield, D., Ross, S.R. and Marshall, A.  2007.  Exploring diachronic change in the group specific vocalizations of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).  American Journal of Physical Anthropology (Suppl 44): 123-124  

Melber, T.M., Lonsdorf, E.V. and Ross, S.R.  2007.  Social learning of tool-use skills in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).  American Journal of Primatology 69 (supplement 1): 100-101.  

Ross, S.R., Lonsdorf, E.V. and Stoinski, T.S.  2007.  Assessing the welfare implications of visitors in a zoo setting: A comment on Wells (2005).  Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 102: 130-133.  

Vreeman, V.M. and Ross, S.R.  2007.  Do seasonal changes affect activity in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) living in a northern zoo?   American Journal of Primatology 69 (supplement 1): 89.  

Bloomsmith, M.A., Ross, S.R., Bettinger, T., Clay, A.W. and Anderson, U.  2006.  Cross-sectional study of the behavioral development of young male chimpanzees in twenty zoos.  American Journal of Primatology 68 (supplement 1): 48.  

Lonsdorf, E.V., Ross, S.R. and Melber, T.N.  2006.  An experimental, comparative approach to social learning of tool-use skills in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).  International Journal of Primatology (supplement 1): 27.  

Melber, T.N., Lonsdorf, E.V., and Ross, S.R.  2006.  The Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes: A new center for the advancement of research, conservation and education.  American Journal of Primatology 68 (supplement 1): 121.  

Ross, S.R.  2006.  Issues of choice and control in a pair of captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus).  Behavioural Processes, 73(1): 117-120.  

Ross, S.R. and Lukas, K.E.  2006.  Attitudes and knowledge of visitors towards African apes at a North American Zoo.   International Journal of Primatology (supplement 1): 27.  

Ross, S.R. and Lukas, K.E.  2006.  Use of space in a non-naturalistic environment by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).  Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 96: 143-152.  

Ross, S.R., Bettinger, T.M., and Bloomsmith, M.A.  2006.  Patterns of wounding incidents in captive chimpanzee groups with adolescent males.  International Journal of Primatology (supplement 1): 27.  

Bloomsmith, M.A., Baker, K.C., Ross, S.R. and Lambeth, S.P.  2005.  Early rearing conditions and captive chimpanzee behavior: Some surprising findings.  Nursery Rearing of Nonhuman Primates in the 21st Century. Kluver Academic Publishers, New York, New York, 289-312.  

Lukas, K.E. and Ross, S.R.  2005.  Zoo visitor knowledge and attitudes towards gorillas and chimpanzees.  Journal of Environmental Education, 36(4): 33-48.  

Ross, S.R and Lukas, K.E.  2005.  Zoo Visitor Behavior at an African Ape Exhibit.  Visitor Studies Today, 8(1): 4-12.  

Maestripieri, D. and Ross, S.R.  2004.  Maternal influences on infant behavioral development in western lowland gorillas.  Advances in Psychology Research, 27: 96-112.  

Maestripieri, D. and Ross, S.R.  2004.  Sex differences in play among western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) infants: Implications for adult behavior and social structure.  American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 123 (1): 52-61.  

Bloomsmith, M., Kuhar, C., Baker, K., Lambeth, S., Brent, L., Ross, S. and Fritz, J.  2003.  Primiparous chimpanzee mothers and their infants: Behavior, interactions, and success.  Applied Animal Behavior Science, 84: 235-250.  

Hopkins, W.D., Stoinski, T.S., Lukas, K.E., Ross, S.R. and Wesley, M.J  2003.  Comparative Assessment of handedness for a coordinated bimanual task in chimpanzees (Pan), gorillas (Gorilla), and orangutans (Pongo).  Journal of Comparative Psychology, 117(3): 302-308.  

Ross, S.R.  2003.  A guide to caring for chimpanzees (book review).  Zoo Biology, 22: 609-612.  

Ross, S.R.  2003.  North American regional studbook for the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).  Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois.  

Maestripieri, D., Ross, S.K. and Megna, N.L.  2002.  Mother-infant interactions in western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla): Spatial relationships, communication, and opportunities for social learning.  Journal of Comparative Psychology, 116(3): 219-227.  

Platt, J., Brown-Palsgrove, M. and Ross, S.R.  2002.  Otter enrichment and the benefits of keeper involvement in behavioral research.  Animal Keepers’ Forum, 29(11).  

Ross, S.R.  2002.  The effect of a simple feeding enrichment strategy on the behavior of two small-clawed Asian otters (Aonyx cinerea).  Aquatic Mammals, 28 (2): 113-120.  

Baker, K.C., Bloomsmith, M.A., Ross, S.K., Lambeth, S.P. and Noble, P.L.  2001.  The behavioral effects of control vs. passive exposure to joystick-controlled computer tasks intended as enrichment for chimpanzees.  American Journal of Primatology, 54(1): 64.  

Bloomsmith, M., Kuhar, C., Baker, K., Lambeth, S., Brent, L., Ross, S. and Fritz, J.  2001.  Early interactions between primiparous chimpanzees and their infants.  American Journal of Primatology, 54(1): 31.  

Ross, S.K. and Lukas, K.E.  2001.  Exhibit use by great apes as part of a post-occupancy evaluation.  American Journal of Primatology, 54(1): 31.  

Ross, S.K., Barger, N., Ganas, J., Lukas, K., Nichols, C., Megna, N., Stoinski, T. and Maestripieri, D.  2001.  Maternal scaffolding of offspring behavior in western lowland gorillas.  American Journal of Primatology, 54(1): 31.  

Ross, S.R., and Lukas, K.E.  2001.  The care and management of captive chimpanzees workshop: Managing social behavior.  Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 4(4).  

Bloomsmith, M.A., Baker, K.C., Lambeth, S.P., Ross, S.K. and Shapiro, S.P.  2000.  Is giving chimpanzees control over environmental enrichment a good idea?  Proceedings of “The Apes: Challenges for the 21st Century” Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 88-89.  

Bloomsmith, M.A., Ross, S.K. and Baker, K.C.  2000.  Control over computer-assisted enrichment for socially housed chimpanzees.  American Journal of Primatology, 51(1): 45.  

Ross, S.K., Bloomsmith, M.A., Baker, K.C. and Hopkins, W.D.  2000.  Initiating a computer-assisted enrichment system for captive chimpanzees.  American Journal of Primatology, 51(1): 86-87.  

Bloomsmith, M.A., Baker, K.C., Ross, S.K. and Lambeth, S.P.  1999.  Comparing animal training to non-training human interaction as environmental enrichment for chimpanzees.  American Journal of Primatology, 49(1): 35.  

Weary, D.M., Pajor, E.A., Bonenfant, M., Ross, S.K., Fraser, D. and Kramer, D.L.  1999.  Alternative housing for sows and litters: Effects of a communal piglet area on pre- and post-weaning behaviour and performance.  Applied Animal Behavior Science, 65: 123-135.  

Baker, K.C. and Ross, S.K.  1998.  Outdoor access: The behavioral benefits to chimpanzees.  American Journal of Primatology, 45: 166.  

Bloomsmith, M.A., Baker, K.C., Ross, S.K. and Lambeth, S.P.  1998.  Enlarging chimpanzee social groups: The behavioral course of introductions.  American Journal of Primatology, 45: 171.  

Weary, D.M., Pajor, E.A., Bonenfant, M., Ross, S.K., Fraser, D. and Kramer, D.L.  1997.  The effects of mixing litters during lactation and at weaning on piglet behaviour and performance.  Proceedings of the 31st International Congress of the ISAE, Prague, Czech Republic.  

Weary, D.M., Ross, S. and Fraser, D.  1997.  Vocalizations by isolated piglets: A reliable indicator of piglet need directed towards the sow.  Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 53: 249-257.