Morphometrics Applications in Biology and Paleontology

Morphometrics is one of the most dynamic and popular fields on the contemporary biological scene. Focusing, as it does, on the quantitative characterization and analysis of morphological data, students increasingly see morphometrics as a necessary complement to molecular studies in their quests to understand the origin and maintenance of biodiversity. Moreover, morphometrics has recently been shown to have direct utility in phylogenetic contexts, by both finding new, and sharpening the definition of old, character states.

At this juncture in the field’s development, a more up-to-date and thorough treatment of the use of morphometric procedures in a wide variety of contexts is needed. The book in hand, Morphometrics provides such answers to real-world questions for real-world systematists.

1 Introduction.- 2 Application of geometric morphometrics to the study of shape polymorphism in Eocene ostracodes from Egypt and Spain.- 3 Morphometric analysis of population differentiation and sexual dimorphism in the blue spiny lobster Panulirus inflatus (Bouvier 1895) from NW Mexico.- 4. The effect of alcohol and freezing preservation on carapace size and shape in Liocarcinus depurator (Crustacea, Brachyura).- 5 Allometric field decomposition — an attempt at morphogenetic morphometrics.- 6 A combined landmark and outline-based approach to ontogenetic shape change in the Ordovician trilobite Triarthrus becki.- 7 Morphological analysis of two- and three-dimensional images of branching sponges and corals.- 8 Geometric morphometric analysis of head shape variation in four species of hammerhead sharks (Carcharhiniformes: Sphyrnidae).- 9 Morphometric stock structure of the Pacific sardine Sardinops sagax (Jenyns, 1842) off Baja California, Mexico.- 10. Sauropod Tracks — a geometric morphometric study.- 11 Morphometric approach to Titanosauriformes (Sauropoda, Dinosauria) femora: Implications to the paleobiogeographic analysis.- 12 Geometric morphometrics in macroevolution: morphological diversity of the skull in modern avian forms in contrast to some theropod dinosaurs.- 13 Correlation of foot sole morphology with locomotion behaviour and substrate use in four passerine genera.- 14 Maximum-likelihood identification of fossils: taxonomic identification of Quaternary marmots (Rodentia, Mammalia) and identification of vertebral position in the pipesnake Cylindrophis (Serpentes, Reptilia).- 15 Geometric morphometrics of the upper antemolar row configuration in the brown-toothed shrews of the genus Sorex (Mammalia).- 16 Geometric morphometrics in paleoanthropology:Mandibular shape variation, allometry, and the evolution of modern human skull morphology.- 17 3-D geometric morphometric analysis of temporal bone landmarks in Neanderthals and modern humans.