ABOUT DRP
PEOPLE
CAREERS
PARTNERSHIPS
SCIENCE RESEARCH
 » I. Research System
 » II. Research Methods
 » A. Phylogenetics
 » B. Morphometrics
 » C. SEM
 » D. X-Radiology
 » E. Development Experiments
 » F. Field Research
 » III. Caribbean Biodiversity Research
SCIENCE EDUCATION
TEACHER WORKSHOPS
MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES

Morphometrics is the field of biology involved in the quantification of biological form (or morphology). We use morphometrics to quantify patterns of growth and development both ontogentically and phylogenetically. We also use morphometrics to quantify magnitudes of variation within and among species and measure the effects of environmental variables on growth, development, size, and shape. This work specifically involves capturing digital images of specimens and employing computer technology to measure distances and establish landmarks on adult and juvenile Prunum shells (as well as on X-radiographs of ontogeny).

Our morphometric research uses both traditional multivariate and geometric morphometric analyses. Both approaches are used to analyze morphological and developmental evolution quantitatively. Geometric morphometric analysis is especially advantageous for morphologists because it is the first method that is able to unambiguously separate size and shape variation between growth stages and examine the relationship between local and global shape deformations independent of size. It is therefore well suited for studying allometric (shape) change during growth and through evolution.