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Article: Categorical versus geometric morphometric approaches to characterizing the evolution of morphological disparity in Osteostraci (Vertebrata, stem Gnathostomata)

Palaeontology - Vol. 63 Part 5 - Cover Image
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume: 63
Part: 5
Publication Date: September 2020
Page(s): 717 732
Author(s): Humberto G. Ferrón, Jenny M. Greenwood, Bradley Deline, Carlos Martínez‐Pérez, Héctor Botella, Robert S. Sansom, Marcello Ruta, and Philip C. J. Donoghue
Addition Information

How to Cite

FERRóN, H.G., GREENWOOD, J.M., DELINE, B., MARTíNEZ‐PéREZ, C., BOTELLA, H., SANSOM, R.S., RUTA, M., DONOGHUE, P.C.J. 2020. . Palaeontology, 63, 5, 717-732. DOI: /doi/10.1111/pala.12482

Author Information

  • Humberto G. Ferrón - School of Earth Sciences University of Bristol Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
  • Humberto G. Ferrón - Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva Universitat de València C/ Catedràtic José Beltrán Martínez 2 46980 Paterna, Valencia Spain
  • Jenny M. Greenwood - School of Earth Sciences University of Bristol Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
  • Bradley Deline - Department of Geosciences University of West Georgia Carrollton GA 30118 USA
  • Carlos Martínez‐Pérez - School of Earth Sciences University of Bristol Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
  • Carlos Martínez‐Pérez - Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva Universitat de València C/ Catedràtic José Beltrán Martínez 2 46980 Paterna, Valencia Spain
  • Héctor Botella - Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva Universitat de València C/ Catedràtic José Beltrán Martínez 2 46980 Paterna, Valencia Spain
  • Robert S. Sansom - School of Earth & Environmental Sciences University of Manchester Manchester M13 9PT UK
  • Marcello Ruta - School of Life Sciences University of Lincoln Riseholme Hall Lincoln LN2 2LG UK
  • Philip C. J. Donoghue - School of Earth Sciences University of Bristol Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 30 August 2020
  • Manuscript Accepted: 27 February 2020
  • Manuscript Received: 02 October 2019

Funded By

Natural Environment Research Council. Grant Numbers: NE/G016623/1, NER/S/A/2004/12682
European Commission. Grant Number: H2020‐MSCA‐IF‐2018‐839636
University of Valencia. Grant Number: UV‐INV‐AE18‐783172

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
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Abstract

Morphological variation (disparity) is almost invariably characterized by two non‐mutually exclusive approaches: (1) quantitatively, through geometric morphometrics; and (2) in terms of discrete, ‘cladistic’, or categorical characters. Uncertainty over the comparability of these approaches diminishes the potential to obtain nomothetic insights into the evolution of morphological disparity and the few benchmarking studies conducted so far show contrasting results. Here, we apply both approaches to characterizing morphology in the stem‐gnathostome clade Osteostraci in order to assess congruence between these alternative methods as well as to explore the evolutionary patterns of the group in terms of temporal disparity and the influence of phylogenetic relationships and habitat on morphospace occupation. Our results suggest that both approaches yield similar results in morphospace occupation and clustering, but also some differences indicating that these metrics may capture different aspects of morphology. Phylomorphospaces reveal convergence towards a generalized ‘horseshoe’‐shaped cranial morphology and two strong trends involving major groups of osteostracans (benneviaspidids and thyestiids), which probably reflect adaptations to different lifestyles. Temporal patterns of disparity obtained from categorical and morphometric approaches appear congruent, however, disparity maxima occur at different times in the evolutionary history of the group. The results of our analyses indicate that categorical and continuous data sets may characterize different patterns of morphological disparity and that discrepancies could reflect preservational limitations of morphometric data and differences in the potential of each data type for characterizing more or less inclusive aspects of overall phenotype.

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