Geometric Morphometrics for Biologists (2^nd Ed.) A Primer

The first edition of Geometric Morphometrics for Biologists has been the primary resource for teaching modern geometric methods of shape analysis to biologists who have a stronger background in biology than in multivariate statistics and matrix algebra. These geometric methods are appealing to biologists who approach the study of shape from a variety of perspectives, from clinical to evolutionary, because they incorporate the geometry of organisms throughout the data analysis. The second edition of this book retains the emphasis on accessible explanations, and the copious illustrations and examples of the first, updating the treatment of both theory and practice. The second edition represents the current state-of-the-art and adds new examples and summarizes recent literature, as well as provides an overview of new software and step-by-step guidance through details of carrying out the analyses.

1. Introduction

Part I: Basics of Shape Data2. Landmarks and Semilandmarks3. Simple Size and Shape Variables: Shape Coordinates4. Theory of Shape5. The Thin-plate Spline

Part 2: Analyzing Shape Variables6. Ordination Methods7. Partial Least Squares8. Statistics9. General Linear Models

Part 3: Applications10. Evolutionary Developmental Biology11. Variational Properties12. Ecological and Evolutionary Morphology13. Systematics14. Forensics

Dr. Miriam Zelditch is Associate Research Scientist at the University of Michigan’s Museum of Paleontology. She obtained her PhD in Zoology from Michigan State University and conducted her NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Michigan. Her research interests broadly include zoology, paleobiology, evolutionary biology, comparative biology, and morphology. She has co-edited both prior editions of Geometric Morphometrics for Biologists.

Dr. Donald Swiderski is Adjunct Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology. He obtained his MSc in Paleontology and his PhD in Zoology from Michigan State University. His research interests broadly include zoology, paleontology, comparative vertebrate anatomy, mammalogy, and morphology. He has co-edited both prior editions of Geometric Morphometrics for Biologists.

• Contains updated coverage of methods, especially for sampling complex curves and 3D forms and a new chapter on applications of geometric morphometrics to forensics
• Offers a reorganization of chapters to streamline learning basic concepts
• Presents detailed instructions for conducting analyses with freely available, easy to use software
• Provides numerous illustrations, including graphical presentations of important theoretical concepts and demonstrations of alternative approaches to presenting results